The new Tulita Health Centre replaces previous facility that no longer meets modern healthcare program requirements or energy efficiency standards. The new facility will significantly enhance community health services, offering enhanced program spaces, improved staff workflow, and a welcoming environment that was thoughtfully designed to reflect Dene culture.
The facility is designed as a hybrid steel and wood frame structure, carefully engineered to meet the demands of the northern climate. Due to the presence of permafrost and seasonally variable ground conditions, the entire structure is elevated on a system of steel piles that form a robust foundational grid. This solution provides long-term stability and protects the building from frost heave.
Above the platform, the superstructure integrates structural steel framing with light wood frame elements, including shearwalls. This hybrid system was chosen to balance strength, constructability, and sustainability while enabling open, flexible interior layouts suited to healthcare delivery.
A defining feature is the rounded, double-height waiting room space that rises above the main roofline. This volume is supported by wood columns and allows for abundant natural light, creating a central focal point in the facility.
In line with the project’s sustainability goals, we worked closely with our design-build partners to accommodate high-performance envelope systems, heat recovery ventilation, and the integration of high-efficiency LED lighting systems.