Project Description:
Gwich’in Territorial Park is situated on the shores of Campbell Lake, about 30 km south of Inuvik. Located north of the Arctic Circle, this is LEES+Associates most northerly project.
The Government of Northwest Territories commissioned LEES+Associates, working with subconsultant Avens Associates, to provide full design services including stakeholder engagement, conceptual design, tender documents and contract administration.
The project focused on developing a group camping area within the Gwich’in Campground. The new camping area is designed for cultural use specifically by groups delivering specialized programming that includes elder’s day trips, cultural workshops and on-the-land programs.
Design elements include tent frames to support cultural activities including a family camping shelter, kitchen shelter, program shelter and flexible gathering space. Camping area amenities include steel fire pits, timber picnic tables, accessible gravel trails and parking areas, gravel tent pads, signage and portable toilets.
The new amenities were carefully sited to fit with the existing terrain and to optimize privacy and views. Rather than importing new plants, existing trees were retained to provide natural borders and separate areas, and plants were harvested and transplanted on site to restore disturbed areas.
Given the short northern construction window, materials were selected that could be sourced or fabricated locally including gravel, local boulders and custom timber structures.