SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A group of academics arrived in Yellowknife last week for a five-day symposium on regional development.

The Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada chose Yellowknife as its destination for their 35th annual meeting, with regionalism as this year's theme. The conference began last Friday and ran until July 1.

Hossein Amanat, left, and Yellowknife's Kayhan Nadji enjoy their tour of the legislature during the 35th annual conference of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada - a five-day event that ended on Canada Day. - Ben Morgan/NNSL photo

"It's a whole group of different professions that come together to discuss architecture," said society president Andrew Waldron, an architectural historian for Parks Canada. "We try to come to smaller communities and more remote locations like Yellowknife on purpose."

Society members include structural and landscape architects, architectural historians and planners, sociologists, ethnologists, heritage conservation and landscape history specialists.

Yellowknife was centre stage for their inspections.

Vancouver-based architect Hossein Amanat said local regional characteristics have a great effect on development. Climate, the land and all aspects of building are governed by location, he said.

Amanat has visited the NWT capital once before.

"When you approach the city from the air, on the way into the airport, you get a sense of this place - the beautiful lakes and the topography - it's very unique. Architects are following beauty, so they love to be here," he said.

Conference attendees analyzed the many challenges facing different regions in Canada.

The Northern regions of the country have some challenges of interest to the society, as highlighted by the different presentations offered during the five-day event.

Local architect Kayhan Nadji discussed design and construction techniques in the North. He said it took two years of planning to bring the conference here.

"I'm glad this is happening here, it's a good recognition for Yellowknife. Now all the delegates can see this place, what it really is, the beauty of the city, the new and modern Yellowknife," said Nadji.

His award-winning tipi home, a 4,000 square-foot Yellowknife house and one of the most photographed buildings in the city, was visited by delegates during the tours.

The society also inspected the legislature assembly, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and the Greenstone building on Franklin Avenue. The backside of the Greenstone building is clustered with solar panels for generating power; it's one of the most energy-efficient buildings in all of Canada.

The society's president said everyone was excited to see the buildings.

"We get a strong sense there is some experimenting going on in this city; its very interesting to us," said Waldron.