CAOA Operations Camp and Support Buildings

The client challenged BAW Architecture to design a complex that would not only meet the goals established in their Operational Excellence program, but serve to attract and retain the highest quality professional personnel from around the globe. BAW was tapped for our ability to envision a project of great scale then design a complete operational complex—calling on a level of expertise that has propelled us to the forefront of our industry over the last 30 years. We rose to the challenge and set to work.

The camp is located in an area of the Canadian wilderness, in proximity to the area’s rich natural resources and destination markets. It is so remote that workers spend a month on site followed by a month at home. It was therefore crucial to create an environment that was highly functional, aesthetically appealing and technologically cutting-edge, to inspire a sense of pride and to attract and retain the best talent available. BAW had to do all this while being ever mindful of process and personal safety, health considerations, and careful stewardship of finances within the existing budget.

Master planning asks the fundamental question on behalf of the client, “What do they really need?” It all starts with understanding how people will actually work and live in the complex. Everything about this project evolved from there. The solution included not only the siting and design of the control building but also that of the administration, security, emergency services, cafeteria, housing, laboratory, and fitness center, resulting in a fully integrated remote processing facility.

Facility siting posed unusual challenges and opportunities. The complex is on land that is considered sacred to indigenous tribal peoples, and as such we felt a compelling responsibility to incorporate native elements in its architectural design, drawing aesthetic inspiration from the culturally rich heritage of these native cultures. The BAW team exercised great sensitivity and care while pursuing the goal of integrating historically significant elements customary to the indigenous peoples of the region, such as the totem and thunderbird, into the overall master plan design.

The buildings are not islands—they interface and are organized such that they enjoy a synergy in their combined functionality and efficiency. The architectural result is intelligent, and leverages the potential of each disparate unit into a whole, the sum of which is greater than its parts. It is a once-in-a-generation solution, a camp comprised of fit-for-purpose buildings that will positively impact safety, quality of life, and the bottom line for decades to come.