Government of Nunavut Buildings

operational

Opportunity The Government of Nunavut needed a legislative building, office space, and 250 units of employee housing. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)—now Indigenous and Northern Affairs Development Canada — made it a priority to have a local company develop the project using local labour and supplies. Planning began several years prior to the founding of Nunavut as a new territory on April 1, 1999. The project is an early P3, structured using the Build-Own-Operate model. Challenges Building a large-scale project under difficult climate conditions. Building the necessary capacity in the local economy while complying with the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement (NLCA). Innovation An independent cost analysis confirmed that a long-term lease arrangement with an Inuit company was a competitive alternative to minimize capital costs for the new Territorial Government and offer future accommodation flexibility. Results The project delivered ten government buildings (146,000 square feet) including the Legislative Assembly in Iqaluit and 250 units of employee housing in 11 communities throughout Nunavut on-budget and one year ahead of schedule.  The Legislative Assembly was designed to look like the interior of an igloo to reflect local Inuit culture and history. An interior street connects it to the government offices. As a result of this project the Nunavut Construction Corporation (NCC) grew into a large real estate development corporation with a portfolio valued at $150 million in 2001.

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