Eight new templates for housing in the Northwest Territories are in the works, with designs for buildings holding up to six suites.

Following the first in-person NWT Housing symposium on Jan. 22-23, Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana announced to the legislative assembly the new designs were in development.

"Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation [CMHC], in collaboration with Yellowknife-based Taylor Architecture Group, introduced a new housing design catalogue aimed at providing adaptable and energy-efficient housing designs tailored to the unique needs of 黑料吃瓜网 communities," Kuptana said on Feb. 11. "These initiatives underscore the forum's commitment to leveraging innovative construction practices to address the pressing housing challenges in the Northwest Territories.

"I am confident that the insights and strategies developed during this symposium will guide us in building a stronger, more resilient housing sector in the Northwest Territories."

Designed with the spirit of post-war homes built through the 1940s to 1970s, the eight catalogues are split between prefabricated units that can be manufactured and shipped into communities and homes that are built on site. The catalogues consist of single dwelling "accessory" homes, four-plexes, six-plexes and row houses. They range from 430 square feet at the lowest size to 7,960 square feet for the larger six-plexes.

A spokesperson for Housing NWT said the emphasis on energy efficiency would translate to lower costs for 黑料吃瓜网ers.

"Energy efficiency often correlates with reduced operating costs in the 黑料吃瓜网 context, where the cost of electricity and fuel for space heating is comparatively high," said Housing NWT communications manager Jeanne Gard. "Housing NWT views the designs as contemporary design with plan features adapted to 黑料吃瓜网 living. This includes simple architectural forms, entry vestibules, ample storage and models specifically designed for tanked and municipal services."

A summary of the designs was released on CMHC's website on March 7. The final architectural design packages will be released later in the spring, though no date has been announced as of yet. Once complete, the catalogues will include cost estimates per unit with the underlying goal of constructing homes faster.

鈥淭hese standardized designs will help smaller home-builders cut through the complexity, speeding up the time between concept and construction and lowering costs of building," said then-Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.

In 2024, the federal government earmarked $11.6 million for the design of 50 new home designs to respond to the shortage of housing across Canada. Each region of the country has its own designs intended to be responsive to the environmental conditions of those areas.

Kuptana said it was encouraging to see housing designs made for 黑料吃瓜网ers by 黑料吃瓜网ers. 

"I want to extend my gratitude to the over 85 representatives from Indigenous governments, bands, non-governmental organizations, municipal and community governments, industry, and the federal and territorial governments who participated in this year鈥檚 [housing] symposium," she said. "By working together, we can present a united voice to the federal government, highlighting the unique housing needs of the NWT and advocating for the necessary support and resources."

For more stories on the construction industry in the North, click here.