November 19, 1998
Ottawa using new building to assert presence in capital
The federal government's new office building in Iqaluit will display numerous symbols of Nunavut's culture and history.
ANNETTE BOURGEOIS
Nunatsiaq News
IQALUIT — It's not a public building per se, but architects designing the new federal government office building in Iqaluit aim to make it as inviting to the public as possible.
The two-storey office structure will house 13 federal government departments and an estimated staff of 125 people, but designers don't want it to look like just another bureaucratic workplace.
"Our concern is that, in general terms, the public finds the building acceptable, that it doesn't offend anyone," Iqaluit architect Clive Clark said. Ferguson, Simek, Clark and Livingstone Architects are the two local firms working on the $7-million building.
The federal building will be less imposing than its next-door neighbor, the Government of Nunavut building, which will be home to Nunavut's first legislative assembly. It also won't carry the symbolic significance of that building, but that doesn't mean it won't reflect northern culture.
In fact, Ash Randev, who's overseeing the project for Public Works and Services Canada, said the building will incorporate a number of northern themes.
"It won't just be a transplanted Government of Canada building from the South," he said.
As people enter the main lobby, they'll be greeted by visitors' centre-type interpretive displays describing the different departments within the building.
One suggestion is to show the history of the RCMP in the North. The RCMP will be one of the five largest occupants, along with Indian and Northern Affairs, Justice Canada, Parks Canada and Environment Canada.
Use of local stone
Local stone will be creatively displayed within the building, Clark said, and he's eying stone from South Baffin for areas such as the washrooms. There's also an iridescent stone he describes as perfect for enhancing light within the lobby area.
"Essentially we're trying to create the impression of an igloo at night," he described. "It's rather abstract."
Incorporating local materials into the design of the building will not only give it a local feel, Clark explained, but it also displays the practical use of a variety of underutilized products.
"It's a way of saying 'here's a product from another community that could be used in this way,'" he said.
Artists from across Nunavut will be asked to contribute original pieces for decoration throughout the building, Randev said. A committee of elders is working with DIAND officials to determine how the artworks will be commissioned and what overall theme they will reflect.
Furniture made by inmates in some of Canada's prisons will also be used for offices and waiting areas.
Construction will begin next May and plans are underway now to determine how many Inuit will work on the site.
"The intention is to employ and provide opportunities for as many Inuit as possible," said Clark, who added the company is working with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc to pin down a realistic number.