Pelican High Peak Youth Healing Lodge Renovations

KAL was retained by Ka-Na-Chi-Hih (KNCH) to renovate the finishes in an existing school building to better reflect the vision and programming needs of their Pelican High Peak Youth Healing Lodge facility in Sioux Lookout. The existing building was a traditional educational facility with concrete block-walled classrooms flanking a central corridor. To help achieve KNCH’s vision, the selected interior finishes softened the institutional ambiance into a warmer, cozier environment for the youth to feel comfortable living in during their 6-12 week treatment periods. The client was working with a total funding budget of $1.4 Million, with the exterior site upgrades being deferred for future development.

This 10,024 ft2 split-level facility is located on a gradually sloping site in the heart of Sioux Lookout. The spaces now include a large rec room, multiple common areas such as a healing room, living room, semi-commercial learning kitchen, study nook, and sensory area. KAL addressed the finishes, millwork, and layout for the majority of the spaces, with the concrete block being covered over through much of the residential wing and throughout the corridors. To ensure the safety of residents and clients, all selected hardware and fittings were specified as non-ligature type.

A fireplace was introduced to the living room as a warm focal point for group gatherings while the gymnasium was re-envisioned as a rec room with patterned flooring and curvilinear accent lightening to enliven the space. Particular attention was focused on the traditional healing room where natural wood elements were introduced in response to KNCH’s specific request for a traditional and natural palette that would be comforting to residents. The traditional healing room encourages sharing during group sessions, and provides a venue for personal expression in speech and drumming.