Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS)

The Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) was built in Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut, as part of Canada's Northern Strategy. A world-class Arctic research station, it brings science and technology and traditional Inuit knowledge together under one roof.

EVOQ designed the 7,888 m² campus in joint venture with NFOE. The two-storey Main Building covers 4,800 m² and houses cutting-edge laboratories and public spaces, including a multi-use knowledge-sharing area, food services, and a winter garden.

Both the design process and the station itself draw from Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) principles: free, open, interconnected spaces; the circular qalgiq used inside and out; an exposed wood structure evoking Inuit building ingenuity; and copper-coloured cladding honouring the Copper Inuit host community. CHARS was inaugurated in 2019 and certified LEED® Silver in 2023.