Friday 25 January 2013

Inuvik #NWT's Children's First Centre Wins National Award for #Yukon #Architecture firm

Inuvik's Children's First Centre has received national recognition from the prestigious industry journal Canadian Architect. The journal's annual competition judges projects from an extensive list of applicants with awards given in three categories: Award of Excellence, Award of Merit and Student Award of Excellence. The Children's First Centre was given the highest recognition, receiving an Award of Excellence, after being submitted by the project's architects, kobayashi + zedda architects ltd. Only 13 projects of the 167 submissions were given the honour in this, the competition's 45th year.

In selecting the Children's First Centre, judges consistently referred to the project's attention to local culture and climate as its greatest strength.

"This project stands tall in addressing these conditions...while being self-aware as to its construction type and...culture. [It] suggests a 'why wouldn't we do this' attitude." wrote competition judge, Donald Chong.

According to Marie-Chantal Croft, another panelist, "[It] impressed me for its exhaustive research on the local context...and the coherence of the solution."

Tony Zedda, principal at kobayashi + zedda and project lead, is proud of the national recognition and the attention it brings. But, he says, the project is "really more about what it will provide for the town: a central, community-supported facility for infants [and] toddlers."

He added that on first hearing about the project "I decided that I really wanted to...make...the Children's First Centre dream a reality. The dedication of the community to this project has been inspiring."

"We want to congratulate Tony - and really the entire team at kobayashi + zedda - for receiving this award," says Melinda Gillis, Chair of the Children First Society.

"They have provided important guidance and tremendous support to this project. We are getting so close to the finished product and this is one more reason to celebrate," added Gillis.

Located north of the Arctic Circle in Inuvik, NT, the Children's First Centre will provide 120 toddler- and infant-care spaces when completed in June 2013. The Centre is overseen by the Children First Society, a registered non-profit organization with a vision of increasing capacity for, facilitating access to and integrating existing program delivery of early childhood education and care in Inuvik.

kobayashi + zedda architects ltd. is a Whitehorse-based architecture and planning firm and winner of the 2006 Professional Prix de Rome from the Canada Council. Together with their partner firm, 360° Design Build, KZA is a multi-disciplinary team of 10 personnel including urban planners, architects, general contractors and carpenters. kobayashi + zedda architects is the largest Yukon Architecture firm.

Read the Canadian Architect article here: http://awards.canadianarchitect.com/?portfolio=childrens-first-centre

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Media contact:
Fraser Pearce
Director, Children First Society
p: 867.777.4068
e: fraspear@gmail.com
t: @fraspear



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GEORGE LESSARD
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