The new school in the countrySA国际影视传媒檚 northernmost mainland community has reached a significant construction milestone, as the building is slated to be enclosed this winter.
The pace of building has been expedient by Arctic standards, with the main structure of the new Taloyoak High School, as well as separate mechanical and electrical rooms, having been already completed.
According to Mayor Lenny Aqigiaq Panigayak, the mechanical room will house boilers, water tanks and sewage tanks, as well as serving as a shop for technical and trade courses, such as mechanics, wood shop and electrical projects. It will be connected to the main building by pipes.
The building will also serve as a daycare and community centre, with the new high school helping to alleviate the strain on services at the existing Netsilik School.
SA国际影视传媒淗aving a new school in our community is a great thing... because our K-12 school is overcrowded, and all the rooms are full," Panigayak said, adding that a new facility has been needed for years because the age difference at Netsilik it too wide. "So I'm happy they will have a separate school.SA国际影视传媒�
Construction of Taloyoak High School, which sits 270 km north of the Arctic Circle, began in 2022. It is expected to be complete in summer 2026.
SA国际影视传媒淥ver the coming months, the main buildingSA国际影视传媒檚 structural elements, including a glulam (glued-laminated) wood roof for the student commons
and cultural space, will need to be completed,SA国际影视传媒� said Justin LeClair, senior associate at Parkin Architects and lead designer on the Taloyoak project.
Located on the northern edge of the community, the building forms the basis for the phase two community development plans. The overall design is intended to highlight the importance of Inuit culture from not just within, but reflecting the importance of the outdoors. The new high school also intends to encourage students to continue to learn through modern and traditional teachings, with a focus on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit programs.
Engaging with the Inuit community was key when coming up with the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 design. The initial stages of project development included community engagement or SA国际影视传媒渧isioningSA国际影视传媒� sessions, where the design team met with community members, including future students, to help guide the project.
SA国际影视传媒淚n Inuktitut, SA国际影视传媒楾aloyoakSA国际影视传媒� means SA国际影视传媒榣arge blind,SA国际影视传媒� referring to stone caribou blind or screen used for hunting, so we incorporated the concept in the school to celebrate their culture,SA国际影视传媒� adds LeClair.
SA国际影视传媒淭here will be a skin room,SA国际影视传媒� says Panigayak, SA国际影视传媒渨here they will be able to work on skin like caribou, and seal skins... they can store the skins in a cool room.
SA国际影视传媒淲hile they were planning the design of the high school, they did community consultation, and that was very good," the mayor added. "They got to ask the community what they would like to see. The community tried to keep it traditional and that's where the skin room came from.SA国际影视传媒�
The overall theme for the school itself, revolving around caribou, came from community consultation.
SA国际影视传媒淥ur community is right on the way of a caribou migration [route], so our community has caribou during the warmer weather. So they name[d] the school Pangnik School (bull caribou),SA国际影视传媒� Panigayak stated. "So we are happy as a community for the new school to be built."
