When major structural issues forced the closure of Iqaluit’s municipal pool, the city’s 7,740 residents were left without a central community space to get healthy and active and connect with each other. The City of Iqaluit envisioned a bigger and better replacement: a new, inviting and accessible community pool and fitness centre that would serve as a model of sustainable building practices for the city and other northern communities.
Construction in Iqaluit carries with it unique challenges. With no road access, materials and equipment were brought in by sea. In response to a near-capacity landfill and lack of recycling facilities, contractors found ways to separate construction waste, diverting at least 70 percent of it by shipping it south for recycling.