Situated in an urban Iqaluit neighbourhood, the Inuusirvik Community Wellness Hub is designed to invite the community to gather and embrace. The mixed-use building provides a generous welcome hall, linked community space with attached kitchen, independent library, daycare classrooms and auxiliary spaces, and research office space.

As daylighting was determined to be a key success factor, the central welcome hall has voluminous height in which extends through the main roof and includes 360 degrees of clerestory glass to enable the sun to pour into the center of the building. The typical rectilinear concept of a building form is manipulated with soft rounded cut-outs to allow additional light and views to all inhabitants further enhancing quality of space throughout. The daycare classrooms are kept playful with linear lighting that is sprinkled throughout. The research offices promote collaboration with large open areas for workshops and
informal meetings.

The Inuusirvik Community Wellness Hub was a recipient of the 2023 Canadian Architect Design Award of Excellence.

Project Profile:

Client: Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre
Total Building Area: 880m²
Construction Completion: November 2023
Construction Cost: $10.5M

Consultant Team:

Prime Consultant, Architect of Record: Verne Reimer Architecture Incorporated
Design Architect: Lateral Office
Civil Engineers: WSP Canada Inc.
Structural Engineers: WSP Canada Inc.
Mechanical Engineers: WSP Canada Inc.
Electrical Engineers: WSP Canada Inc.
Landscape Architects: Verne Reimer Architecture Incorporated
Sustainability: WSP Canada Inc.
Interior Designers: Verne Reimer Architecture Incorporated
Quantity Surveyors: SLCCC Ltd.
General Contractor: NCC Development Limited