New child care centre in St. Boniface set to open this summer!

Rendering of the new 2-storey building, which will accommodate 80 childcare spaces on the main floor and future program space on the second floor

We are excited to announce that l'Université de Saint-Boniface Daycare project is fast approaching substantial completion and anticipates receiving its first students in the summer of 2021. Prairie Architects team is made up of passionate and knowledgeable designers with extensive experience delivering award-wining daycare and educational projects of all types and scales. As such, this project which is targeting LEED Silver certification is already positively transforming the campus grounds for its students, educators and the greater community. The high performance building is equipped with a tight building envelope, energy efficient mechanical system complete with heat recovery, and a leading edge, safe and stimulating childcare environment.

Design underway on airport expansion and redevelopment in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

Rendering of new Rankin Inlet Hamlet Air Terminal project

Prairie Architects is proud to announce our involvement in the new Rankin Inlet Hamlet Air Terminal project working alongside the Government of Nunavut Economic Development and Transportation. As a gateway to the Canadian arctic from western Canada, the airport will serve as a regional hub for Nunavut’s Kivalliq region, supporting the thriving mining and mineral exploration sector. The Rankin Inlet community is very closely tied to the operation of the Air Terminal and as such, Prairie is actively engaged in developing a sophisticated community infrastructure project that will exceed the community needs while allowing for future growth. The proposed ultra high performance approach intends to create zero disruption to flight services during the entire development and anticipates project completion in 2024-25.

Old Grace Housing Co-op: A sustainable community in Wolseley

Arlington Street view

Old Grace Housing Co-op is an inter-generational, mixed-income, architecturally distinctive and environmentally sustainable co-operative housing project located in the heart of Winnipeg’s Wolseley Community. In 2020 this project was given LEED Silver Certification.

The building features articulated and varied facades which reference current Wolseley housing scale, forms, and materials in order to better fit within and enhance the existing community. Many ground floor units include porches and entrances which face the street or courtyard to engage the public and promote openness and community interaction. Second and third-floor units either include balconies or expanded interior spaces. Additionally, professionally designed landscape features, yards, and gardens beautify the site and the community.

New K-8 School in Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation nearing completion

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Construction on the new K-8 School for Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation is nearing completion, with an anticipated grand opening in Summer of 2021.

Parkwest Projects Ltd. and Prairie Architects Inc. were chosen as the successful design-build proponent for a new school for the Shoal Lake No. 40 First Nation in Northwestern Ontario. Although the new school accommodates children from kindergarten to grade eight, it has been designed to accomplish so much more. A key design factor early in the design process was that the new 18,200 sf facility should equal more than the sum of its parts - it should bring added-value to the whole First Nation community as a multi-generational asset designed to be a vibrant and active community hub.

(photos courtesy of Parkwest Projects Ltd.)

The Road to Net Zero - Prioritizing Passive

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We are thrilled to announce the next step in Prairie Architects Inc.’s commitment to a Net Zero future. Principal architect, Lindsay Oster recently became a Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD). She is the first and currently only architect in Manitoba to achieve this certification, which gives Prairie Architects Inc. the ability to offer this in-house expertise to our clients.

Stay tuned for more exciting developments and posts!

Mountain Equipment Co-op celebrates 15 year anniversary!

MEC (2002)

Fifteen years ago today, Winnipeg’s Mountain Equipment Co-op became both Prairie Architects Inc. and the Province of Manitoba’s first ever LEED certified building. Designed to be among the greenest commercial buildings in the world at that time, the project incorporated a multitude of sustainable features, which remain noteworthy even today.

Over 96% of all materials (by weight) used in the construction were recycled from de-constructing existing buildings on the site and all of the newly constructed connections were bolted and screwed to enable future deconstruction to allow materials to once again be recycled at the end of their life-cycle. Irrigation for the green rooftop garden is provided by an onsite PV array that creates electric power to operate a pump that draws irrigation water from basement rainwater collection tanks.

Read more about Mountain Equipment Co-op

École Rivière-Rouge is LEED Gold certified!

Located in the Riverbend area within the Seven Oaks School Division, the 51,562 square foot École Rivière Rouge has LEED Gold certification! Saving the school division 47% in energy costs annually, this building has an energy savings of 50% over the modelled base building, a water savings average of 45%, and diverted 76% of its construction waste from landfill. As with all of our sustainable education projects we design sustainability into the school to be used as a teaching tool in the curriculum. One such feature incorporated into the design of the building is the visual representation of the historical flood levels of the Red River into the masonry work at the front of the school.

Read more about École Rivière-Rouge

Grand Re-Opening of Lacoste Garden Centre Retail!

Lacoste Garden Centre retail is open for Christmas business!

The official grand re-opening of the Lacoste Garden Centre retail store last week was just in time for the holiday shopping crowds, which attended in full force! The facility contains over 7,650 square-feet of newly remodeled indoor retail space attached to the existing greenhouses and a complete exterior re-fresh. And for those looking to enjoy a treat while they shop: Fools & Horses Coffee Company is coming soon!!

Read more about the Lacoste Garden Centre Redevelopment

Grand Opening of the Selkirk Fire Hall & Post-Disaster Centre

Prairie Architects Inc. is thrilled to announce the official grand opening of the Selkirk Fire Hall! This project provides Selkirk and surrounding area with a much needed post-disaster response centre and an increase in apparatus equipment available to the station. The newly renovated and expanded centre provides on-site training facilities for the firemen and women of neighbouring rural municipalities; dedicated museum space featuring the display of an antique fire truck; new fitness centre, washrooms and shower facilities; and a hose drying bay.

CaGBC awards Building Blocks on Balmoral at Great-West Life with Green Building Excellence - New Construction Award

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We are thrilled to announce that the Manitoba Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council recognized Building Blocks on Balmoral at Great-West Life today at its Accelerating to Zero Summit, with the Green Building Excellence - New Construction Award. The project is a testament to adaptive re-use, taking a century old building and transforming it into a leading example of actionable measures to address the global climate and environmental health crisis. Thank you to the entire team that made this possible.

Read more about Building Blocks on Balmoral at Great-West Life

Prairie Architects honoured by the CaGBC

Prairie Architects had the privilege of attending the CaGBC’s Building Lasting Change conference last week, May 28-31, 2019 in beautiful Vancouver, B.C. At the conference we were honoured to receive the Green Building Excellence - Tenant Improvement award, a prestigious recognition of our commitment to sustainability for our own office design, which is certified LEED CI Platinum, Manitoba’s first LEED v.4 CI Platinum project. Prior to the conference Building Blocks on Balmoral at Great West Life was also awarded the Canadian Green Building Award - Institutional [Small] Award by SABMag, also certified LEED Platinum.

Prairie Architects New Office space is officially Manitoba’s first Commercial Interiors LEEDv4 Platinum certified project!

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We are thrilled to share that Prairie Architects New Office space is officially Manitoba’s first Commercial Interiors LEED v4 Platinum certified project! This marks Prairie’s 26th LEED certified building and our 4th LEED Platinum project out of only 10 Platinum projects throughout Canada. Prairie’s values are expressed through our workspace design and we recognize the importance our office plays in its direct impact on the environment. Thank you to all who have contributed in achieving this successful milestone with us!

Seven Oaks Pool open to the public, Winnipeg’s first indoor splash pad!

The Seven Oaks Pool is now open to the public offering the City’s first indoor splash pad! The expansion not only offers water slides, interactive water features, and a universally-accessible teach pool…

Building Blocks on Balmoral at Great-West Life receives LEED Platinum Certification

Building Blocks on Balmoral daycare at Great-West Life is the only stand alone daycare in Canada to receive LEED Platinum certification. This marks Prairie’s 25th LEED certified building.

Brandon Municipal Airport now open for Arrivals and Departures

One of the eagerly-anticipated first flights welcomed at the Brandon Municipal Airport (2017)

In order to accommodate larger airline carriers with modern passenger check-in, screening, boarding, luggage and arrival services, the Brandon Municipal Airport has undergone an expansion and redevelopment of its aging 1970’s building.

Amber Trails Community School, First LEED Platinum School in Manitoba!

Located in one of Winnipeg’s newest and expanding neighbourhoods, the Amber Trails Community School in the Seven Oaks School Division (SOSD) recently received LEED Platinum certification, making it the first school in Manitoba and only the second in Canada to receive this prestigious level of sustainable excellence.