Northern Projects - Tundra on Quinthar Architecture

Building Where It Counts

Look, working in northern communities isn't like your typical Calgary project. You're dealing with permafrost, limited access roads, short construction seasons, and communities that've been there way longer than any of us. It's humbling work, really.

Inuvik Community Hub

Location: Inuvik, Northwest Territories

Completed: 2021

This one's close to my heart. The community wanted a gathering space that could handle everything from traditional drum dancing to youth programs to elder meetings. We spent months just listening - that's probably the most important phase of any northern project.

The building sits on adjustable foundation piles (permafrost's always shifting, gotta work with it), uses passive solar design even though winter daylight's basically non-existent, and incorporates traditional Inuvialuit design patterns in the structural elements. Not just decorative either - those patterns actually help with snow load distribution.

Key Features:

Thermosiphon foundation system for permafrost protection
Triple-pane windows with local artwork integration
Greywater recycling (water's precious up there)
Community-designed interior spaces with flexible walls
Ground-source heat pump backup system

"First time we walked through with the elders after completion, one of them said it felt like the building was breathing with the land. That's when you know you got it right."

Yellowknife School Expansion

Location: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Completed: 2020

Schools in the north face unique challenges. You need spaces that work in complete darkness during winter and 24-hour daylight in summer. Kids need natural light for learning, but you can't just throw up massive windows when it's -45°C outside.

We worked with teachers, students, and maintenance staff (those folks know more about building performance than most engineers, honestly) to design an addition that actually improved the original building's energy performance. The old section was bleeding heat like crazy.

Energy Savings

Cut heating costs by 40% for the entire complex - that's real money that goes back to education programs instead of diesel fuel.

Community Input

Students helped design the outdoor learning space, which now gets used even in winter with proper windbreaks and heated seating.

The gym doubles as an emergency shelter - northern communities need that redundancy. We installed backup generators, extra insulation, and storage for emergency supplies. It's not glamorous, but it's necessary.

Iqaluit Housing Complex

Location: Iqaluit, Nunavut

Ongoing: Phase 2 in progress

The housing crisis in northern communities is real and it's urgent. We're talking families living in conditions that wouldn't pass code anywhere else in Canada. This project aims to create affordable, energy-efficient housing that actually works for northern life.

Traditional southern housing designs just don't cut it. You need proper ventilation to handle indoor moisture (hanging wet gear is a daily thing), storage for hunting equipment and country food, and enough insulation that your heating bills don't eat your entire paycheck.

Design Approach:

Modular construction reduces shipping costs and construction time
Built-in mudrooms with heated floors (trust me, you need this)
Solar panels for summer energy offset
Rainwater collection despite everyone thinking the north is always frozen
Designed with local contractors' capabilities in mind

Phase 1 housed 12 families. Phase 2 aims for another 20 units. It's not fast enough, but it's progress.

Heritage & Restoration

The north's got history that deserves respect. Not everything needs to be torn down and rebuilt.

Fort McPherson Trading Post

1927 Original Structure

Restored this old Hudson's Bay post without destroying its character. Modern insulation hidden behind original wood panels, new mechanical systems run through old chimney chases. The building looks exactly like it did in 1930, but now it's actually comfortable year-round.

Local carpenters taught us traditional joinery techniques. You can't just show up and think you know everything.

Deline Cultural Center

Renovation & Expansion

This building was falling apart, but it held decades of community memories. We stabilized the original structure and added a new wing that complements rather than competes.

The elders wanted space for language classes, traditional crafts, and storing ceremonial items. Every decision went through community consultation. Took longer, but the result actually serves their needs.

Tuktoyaktuk Anglican Church

Structural Stabilization

Permafrost melt was tilting this 1935 church at a scary angle. We installed new foundation systems while keeping the building occupied - services couldn't stop just because we were working.

Sometimes preservation means adapting to climate change. The permafrost isn't coming back, so we engineer for the new reality while keeping the heritage intact.

Working With Nature, Not Against It

Here's what 15 years of northern work has taught us: you can't beat the Arctic. You work with it, respect it, and design for its realities. Anyone telling you they've "conquered" northern climate challenges is either lying or hasn't been through a full winter yet.

Every project involves local knowledge holders, traditional design principles, and modern building science. That combination is what works. Skip any of those three and you'll end up with an expensive failure.

Our Northern Project Principles:

Community consultation isn't a checkbox - it's the foundation
Design for the coldest day, not the average day
Local hiring and training on every project
Materials that can actually get there and be maintained
Buildings that serve multiple community functions
Long-term relationships, not just project completion

Current & Upcoming Projects

We've got some exciting work in the pipeline. Can't share all the details yet, but here's what's keeping us busy.

Cambridge Bay Health Facility

Design Phase

Medical facilities in remote communities need to handle everything from routine checkups to emergency surgery. We're designing for resilience and self-sufficiency.

Norman Wells Housing

Planning Stage

Another housing project because the need never stops. Working with a local Indigenous housing authority on culturally appropriate designs.

Dawson City Mixed-Use

Construction 2024

Retail below, affordable housing above, heritage guidelines throughout. Dawson's got strict preservation rules and we're here for it.

Research Station Retrofit

Assessment Phase

1970s research station needs major upgrades. Original design was... optimistic. We're fixing decades of ice damage and energy waste.

Got a Northern Project in Mind?

Whether you're a community organization, territorial government, or private developer, we'd love to hear about your project. Fair warning though - we'll probably ask a lot of questions and want to visit the site before talking design. That's just how northern work goes.

We're based in Calgary but we spend more time in the territories than in the office. Usually that's by choice - northern projects are the best kind of challenging.

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