Nuitauvvik Community Pool

The Salluit Pool is a prominent building in Nunavik. The two–storey recreational facility features a swimming pool, children’s wading pool, and support spaces such as changing rooms, lifeguard station, reception, main hall and utility room. Salluit’s permafrost has been deteriorating for the past two decades. Therefore, special attention was given to the project’s site selection and the building’s precise location in order have
it rest directly on bedrock, all the while limiting excavation and minimizing blasting.

Building such a high humidity interior environment in an extreme arctic climate was a major challenge in terms of building envelope design. High thermal resistance, air tightness, near zero thermal bridges, superior windows and proper heating and ventilation were key to successful condensation control. The architectural narrative was based on a carved ivory walrus tusk, representing the convergence of land, air and sea creatures.