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INUVIK - It's taken 45 years but Aurora College has finally gotten a brand new research centre.

The $11 million federal investment announced by Chuck Strahl, minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, in Yellowknife on March 30 will finally bring a state of the art research institute to Inuvik.

Pippa Seccombe-Hett, director of the Aurora Research Institute, shares a laugh with her colleagues, facility technicians Don Ross, left, and William Hurst at the ARI on Tuesday morning. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Construction on the building is set to begin in the coming months and is expected to be completed in March 2011.

Pippa Seccombe-Hitt, Aurora Research Institute director, said she's thrilled with the announcement.

"It's fantastic," said the botanist who has been with the college for five years. "It's been a long time coming. We've been working on this for two years."

The funding proposal was developed along with two of the institute's main partners, the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

With the research institute's profile increasing over the years, the need for a new facility has became more and more urgent.

It licences all scientific research in the territory and supports researchers visiting Inuvik or Fort Smith, whose studies focus on such areas as permafrost, hydrocarbons, wildlife and social sciences.

Public works also recommended the Inuvik facility be replaced.

Seccombe-Hitt said the new building will provide an up-to-date research facility for current staff researching a host of topics, including environmental contamination and alternative energy, as well as its wind energy monitoring program.

Not only will the new equipment be modern, she said, it will provide an atmosphere a little more conducive to scholarship.

"We want a layout that's a little warmer and welcoming with a nice conference room and display area downstairs," she said. "We need research infrastructure in the western Arctic and we're thrilled to be included in that overall plan."