Naicatchewenin First Nation Culture and Learning Centre

Project Type

assembly educational first-nations offices

Project Size

18,800 sf

Completion Date

2023 - not built

Location

Naicatchewenin First Nation, Ontario

Naicatchewenin First Nation was seeking the creation of a dedicated Culture and Learning Centre in their community. The new facility reinforces the community’s vision and long-term goals: education, training, cultural learning and family wellbeing.

The building includes education and training rooms, cultural and traditional teaching spaces, and family wellbeing, child and family learning spaces.

The design intent was to provide a holistic and supportive environment for healthy child development, strong family connections, and culturally appropriate education and training opportunities for its members. As such, First Nations culture has been embedded into the Community Centre spatially, socially, and experientially; beyond building form alone. This knowledge and cultural significance was determined through community/elder consultation.

Key Features

Togetherness / Interconnection

Creation of a cultural commons which all other programs flow around. Centrally locating cultural programming reinforces the intent of the building while creating opportunities for shared programming and informal interactions between building users and community members.

Connection to Landscape

Connection to the land is achieved by incorporating views and daylighting. The interior spaces seamlessly transition to outdoor gathering spaces including ceremonial spaces and natural greenspaces.

Materiality

Incorporation of natural materials references the natural world and traditional means of construction. Cladding, materiality and patterning present opportunities to incorporate cultural reference and meaning into the building.

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Services Rendered

3D Modelling + Animations

Architectural Design

Cost Analysis

Feasibility Studies

Functional Space Programming

Interior Design

3D Modelling + Animations

Development of three dimensional imagery and animations to visually communicate with our clients.

Architectural Design

We offer comprehensive design services ranging from schematic design, design development, construction document to contract administration for new builds, additions and renovation projects. Our studio has a continuous presence throughout the project; from concept to completion.

Cost Analysis

Our studio develops cost analysis to support programming, feasibility studies, design and general review services. We prepare order of magnitude cost estimates that reference a library of unit costs and construction methods to identify the cost of the project and quantify the scope of work. Our cost analyses is led by our in house professional quantity surveyors - we use real construction cost data that has been collected over thirty years of practice

Feasibility Studies

Feasibility studies use a variety of strategies; programming, master planning building condition audits, cost analysis, etc., to verify that a project is viable.

Functional Space Programming

Functional space programming develops a detailed list of interior and exterior spaces required to support a project. Programming is focused on quantifying spaces, developing the overall size of building or site and identifying ideal relationships between spaces. This process guides the development of the project.

Interior Design

Our studio knows how to bring interiors to life. We are skilled at visioning spatial solutions that create desirable interior work spaces. New spatial environments are supported with the selection of interior finishes, colours, furniture and equipment.

Parameters

Integration of First Nations culture into the building form and experience.
Connection to natural landscape
Create a sense of togetherness.

Solutions

Traditional east-west orientation establishes the axis of the building. The east-west axis extends from the main entry through the Round Room (the cultural core of the building), kitchen and dining space to the landscape beyond, reinforcing traditional teachings and physical and visual connection to the landscape.
The centrally located Round Room incorporates several first nation teachings including the 7 grandfathers’ teachings, 13 moons, turtle and directional colour and symbolism through architectural form, orientation, and finishes.
Architectural form, specifically the lodge model locates programmatic wings adjacent to the cultural core. This creates a cultural common which all other programs flow around. Further, this model provides views and access to the outdoors from each wing while also lending to the creation of protected outdoor spaces and courtyards for ceremonial use, education, and play.