LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A new two-storey office building in the heart of Fort Simpson is on track to provide office space for the community and consolidate a number of government entities under one roof, if negotiations continue as planned.

A rendering of the Nogha Enterprises new two-storey office building approved for the corner of 100 Street and 100 Avenue is scheduled to begin construction next month with a move-in date of early 2016. When finished the $10-million project will be the new home for Liidlii Kue First Nation, Nogha Enterprises, and if negotiations are completed, Parks Canada and the Village of Fort Simpson. - photo courtesy of Potter Consultants

According to project manager Barry Potter, of Alberta-based Potter Consultants, contract negotiations with Parks Canada are nearing conclusion and are progressing smoothly with the Village of Fort Simpson for the two organizations to occupy the entire first floor of the building.

It would be the first permanent home for the village offices in more than a decade. Village staff have worked out of the visitor's centre since 2004 and council has held their twice-monthly meetings in a visitor's centre boardroom.

"It would be their full-fledged municipal offices," said Potter. "They have been occupying the visitor's information centre temporarily while waiting for the right opportunity. We're making the case that the right thing is being done."

The 24,0000-square-foot building, being built by Nogha Enterprises Ltd. with a $10 million price tag, will change the look of a section of the downtown that has been an empty lot for a number of years and is used sparingly for community events, including the Beavertail Jamboree.

Parks Canada will occupy a 5,200-square-foot segment of the first floor. Potter characterized the negotiations for tenancy as "well-advanced" and they're hoping to lock down the federal government organization in the next month or so.

"Parks Canada have a collectivity of boardrooms, offices and work stations that you'd normally see in any office," said Potter.

On the proposed village side it is similar with a number of work stations, offices, a reception area and a council chamber area where committee and the twice-monthly meetings in front of the public can be held. Potter said it will have proper seating and space for delegations.

The building plans were appraised and given a class-A ranking, the highest a project of this type can receive. According to the Building Owners and Managers Association International, a class-A rating is defined as a building that offers premier office space with rents that may be above average for the area. Buildings have high-quality standard finishes, state of the art systems and exceptional accessibility and market presence.

"Class A is what you'd see in downtown Yellowknife, multiple-storey buildings of recent construction and all the benefits of the best approaches to insulation and prevention of heat loss," Potter said.

"This is a brand new building and is a high-quality construction plan. With the cost to heat and light a building in the North, you need to build quality to save on operational and energy costs."

The second floor has 9,400 square feet of office space, 1,000 of that going to Nogha Enterprises and Liidlii Kue First Nation. Potter said the goal of the project was to provide office space for the community to use and one idea being discussed for 4,200 square feet on the second floor is to create an executive-style layout.

"There would be a number of offices running the perimeter of the building with a central reception area, photocopying and computer server options, but you'd only lease the immediacy of what you'd need," he said.

"We think that's good for local business, those people who are running business at home or in their basement. If business was good they could have the formality of the office or you may have resource companies or professionals who are in and out and want the convenience of an office space instead of their hotel room."

Potter said they have yet to decide what to do with the remaining 4,200 square feet, adding it may be leased to a single tenant or carved into three segments.

Construction is scheduled to start in May, however, Potter said starting on time is somewhat contingent on three factors: securing tenants, approval of financing and awarding contracts.

"We have it out for pricing to general contractors," said Potter.

"We really need to define what is going to be local and make sure we're satisfied with it. We're taking inventory in terms of what's available with trades and suppliers and taking measure of that and making sure the contractors are giving local consideration."

When contacted to discuss the project, Liidlii Kue First Nation's Climate Muyambo directed the Deh Cho Drum to Potter.

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