National honours for the architects involved with the new Health Unit building on Oak Street in North Bay.
Mitchell Jensen Architects of North Bay, with Carlyle Design Associates in Ottawa have won the Best in Canada Award from Canadian Interiors Magazine.
In a release, Architect Paul Mitchell says “Health Unit leaders were resolute in the goal of designing a facility which is practical, reflects its values, welcomes the public, inspires staff and visitors and reflects the importance of health promotion to the community.”
Features of the 58,000 square foot, two storey facility include:
– A transparent, two-story lobby as primary circulation and wayfinding
– Open, connected spaces and a quietly shifting palette of quality materials that inspire a sense of confidence and comfort
– Alternative workspaces, private rooms, lounge areas and group settings for table-based and more casual meetings, shared work or socialization
– Workstations clustered along spines running perpendicular to windows to maximize access to daylight, views and operable windows, maintaining generous circulation, and psychological space
– Wood ‘work walls’ that create landmarks, delineate programs, offer informal seating and work space alternatives, and storage of program resources
– A ‘good value’ filter that considered environmental and economic sustainability, durability, cleaning and maintenance and disposal
Over 30 pieces of donated and loaned local artwork were also installed.

“It is very rewarding to serve people so focused on their goal of healthy communities, and to work collaboratively with them to design an environment which contributes to that important endeavour,” says Anne Carlyle

The digital version of Canadian Interiors can be viewed here:
www.canadianinteriors.com/issues/2018-issues/best-of-canada-21/1003746291/

“All of us at the Health Unit are ecstatic about our new building. I look forward to coming to work each day,” says Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health.

With offices in North Bay and Huntsville, Architects Paul Mitchell and Nathan Jensen lead a team of 12 people, building on a legacy of more than 50 years of service to northern communities. Anne Carlyle and associate Alanna Drawson, operate a boutique design practice based in Ottawa, focused on interior planning and design services for health care and other institutional and community facilities. Previous collaborations between Mitchell Jensen and Carlyle Design Associates include the award winning One Kids Place building in North Bay (ARIDO Project of the Year 2010).