Northern United Place Retrofit

Northern United Place (NUP) was built in 1976 by NWT Communicative Services Corporation (CSC), Yellowknife's largest not-for-profit housing provider. The N.W.T. Communities Services Corporation owns and manages quality residential and commercial space located in Northern United Place, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. CSC is the largest non-profit housing provider in Yellowknife and income for their operations comes from our tenants, both commercial and residential. This revenue is used to offset rents and keep them affordable for tenants.

Reimagine completed a design study in December 2023 and created a package of upgrades that include: energy retrofit measures, renewable energy measures, climate resilience measures, repair and maintenance, and others. Overall, 70% energy savings are projected along with a reduction of 86% in GHG emissions relative to pre-retrofit performance.

The combination of retrofit measures, including building envelope and major mechanical and electrical upgrades, presents a holistic and practical approach to reducing energy consumption and extending the building’s life. Switching the heating fuel from oil to pellet boiler further contributes to GHG emissions reduction.

The challenges of this project include the coordination of existing infrastructure of the building, existing hazardous materials found in the cladding and interior of the building, and due to the lack of affordable housing nearby, the tenants occupying the building during construction.

Our team worked with the client to secure $18.5 million in funding for the project, through the Canada Greener Housing (CGAH) program. 

TECHNICAL PROJECT DETAILS
For the over-cladding on the building, an insulated sheathing was chosen, comprising of EPS and mineral wool insulation and an adhered magnesium-based cement board. The combination of insulation and structural elements streamlines construction, saving time, and supports a sub-frame for attaching outer cladding metal panels directly to the board.