Qarmartalik School Expansion, Resolute Bay, Nunavut

Qarmartalik School in Resolute Bay, Nunavut is a K-12 community school and is the only school in Resolute Bay, the second most northerly community in Canada and jumping off point for expeditions to the North Pole. Resolute Bay (Inuktitut: Quasuittuq) is also one of the coldest inhabited places in the world. The school’s name is derived from the Inuit name for a shelter originally built by the Thule people of the high Arctic. The shelter not only provided safety and security against the challenging and demanding Arctic environment, but was also recognized as the centre of learning for the community. Qarmartalik School was in need of a major expansion and renovation to meet new programmatic requirements and to improve teaching conditions. Calnitsky Associates Architects undertook extensive consultation with the community of Resolute Bay, including community elders, students, and teaching staff. A new science/multi-purpose room, CTS trades room, library, resource/computer room, and two additional classrooms were added.