The new 12,500 sq ft multi-purpose education facility opened in January of 2010 and is centrally located on the campus. Alfred Waugh, of Chipweyan descent, was tasked with designing a facility that would honor the identity and pride of native students while providing space for programs centered on indigenous culture. Inside the building contains space for a student union, elders lounges, study areas, classrooms and a ceremonial spaces. The large ceremonial room is built in the Coast Salish Long House design and is used for ceremonies, special events and graduations, and can accommodate 200 people.
Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, natural sunlight and ventilation, natural and local materials, and traditional architecture are dominant in the design. The large sloping roof allows rain water to drain into a stormwater retention pond, while a lower roof is planted with native grasses. Salvaged western red cedar clads the exterior, and woven cedar panels line the hall walls, which were inspired by the bull rush mats traditionally found in long house interiors. Two carved cedar posts sit at the entrance to welcome visitors to the center.
The First Nations community has a new place to gather and celebrate in their beautiful, new center at the University of Victoria, B.C. Christened the ‘First People’s House’, the structure designed by Alfred Waugh Architects is a post and beam construction inspired by traditional Coast Salish longhouses. Clad in salvaged western red cedar and partially topped with a green roof, the new center provides educational space, a ceremonial hall, offices and a student union catering to the native students…
[2]
The new community center was designed and built to provide space for the native students at the University of Victoria.
[3]
The design of the building was inspired by traditional native people’s architecture, particularly Coast Salish longhouses.
[4]
The building includes a student union, elders lounges, study areas, classrooms and ceremonial spaces.
[5]
The long house features three distinct forms: the ceremonial hall, adminstrative offices and classroom space.
[6]
The surrounding landscape is planted with native trees and vegetation, including Garry oak and Douglas-fir trees.
[7]
A long curtain wall on both the north and south side of the building allow natural daylight to permeate the space.
[8]
A large sloping roof drains water into a storm water retention pond.
[9]
Natural ventilation and materials from local sources play a key roll in the design of the facility.
[10]
[11]
Large skylights in the center of the hall let in natural light and the room includes a large fireplace and bleacher seating on both sides of the hall
[12]
Alfred Waugh, who designed the facility is of Chipweyan descent, and his firm has three Aboriginal architects, who assisted with the design.
[13]
The educational facility was officially opened in January of 2010.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]