nsnwa resiliency centre

The Nova Scotia Native Women's Association (NSNWA) Administration Office and Resiliency Centre integrates sustainability, cultural significance, and inclusivity, serving as a model for the design of sustainable Indigenous architecture. Designed using the "Two-Eyed Seeing" approach, the project reflects both cultural traditions and sustainable practices. The facility achieves Net-Zero Operational Energy through passive solar design, a high-performance building envelope, and a rooftop solar photovoltaic system. Working with and reflecting the values of Mi'kmaq women was crucial. Mi'kmaq elders, cultural experts, and community members contributed throughout the design process. Collaborative artists Jennifer Denny and Jordan Bennett were pivotal in shaping the building’s exterior details, incorporating Mi'kmaq design elements along the roof edge ribbon skirt and the eight-pointed star pattern integrated with the windows. The collaborative approach fosters a sense of pride and ownership within the community.  

The NSNWA building is certified in Canada's Green Building Council's Zero Carbon Building Design V3 standard. The main strategies to achieve this are:

  • Optimized east-west building orientation to maximize southern solar exposure, daylighting, and natural ventilation 

  • A roof mounted 58 kW-DC solar PV system 

  • High-performance envelope includes R24 slab, R48 double-stud walls, R75 vented roof and an airtight exterior air barrier 

  • All-electric HVAC system with high-efficiency heat pumps and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) for heating, cooling, and ventilation 

  • Low-toxicity materials, including low-VOC paints and coatings, C2C-certified linoleum flooring with biophilic patterns, and antibacterial properties 

Project Team:   

  • Builder: Lindsay Construction Limited   

  • Civil Engineer: DesignPoint Engineering and Surveying 

  • Structural Engineer: Andrea Doncaster Engineering Ltd. 

  • Mechanical Engineer: Equilibrium Engineering Inc.    

  • Electrical Engineer: Equilibrium Engineering Inc.   

  • Landscape Architect: Outside Landscape Architects Inc. 

  • Artists: Jennifer Denny & Jordan Bennett 

  • Photography: Dean Casavechia