Window and wood panel exterior of building with mountains behind

Nisga’a Museum + Cultural Centre

SECTOR

Arts + Culture

Year

2011

Location

Greenville

Awards

N/A

Highlights

  • AME designed a back-up power generator which utilizes packaged heat pump units; not only does it use less power but it also heats the Museum evenly, efficiently, and more economically.
  • To ensure adequate water pressure for fire safety, a fire pump assembly for boosting sprinkler line pressure was implemented for the facility.
  • The facility and its associated mechanical systems have been designed to withstand the environmental conditions of the area including significant snow accumulation and frequent power interruptions.

Project Details

The Nisga’a Lisims Nation commissioned the design and construction of the Museum and Cultural Centre located in Laxgalts’ap (aka Greenville), BC just 150 km northwest of Terrace. With a design inspired by traditional Nisga’a longhouses, feast dishes, and canoes, this acclaimed cultural building is known as “Hli Goothl Wilp-Adokshl Nisga’a” in their native language, meaning “The Heart of Nisga’a House Crests,” celebrating the importance of tribes and crests in Nisga’a society.

In addition to the museum floor, the facility has a 5,000 sq.ft. exhibition gallery, a small retail area, and multi-purpose meeting spaces. The entrance to the exhibits is through a replica of a Nisga’a longhouse.

Since humidity is a major factor for the Museum and its artifacts, AME designed a space humidification control system to ensure proper ventilation is provided to the conditioned space and seasonal changes in temperature and air quality are dealt with effectively.