Nk’mip Desert Cultural Centre Expansion

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Location Osoyoos, BC

Status Complete 2021

Client Panther Group

Budget $6,100,000

Size 910 sq m

Drawing on its history as a cultural intersection of art and performance, the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre and its expansion answer a complex set of questions about the future of the Osoyoos Indian Band. The site is adjacent to a remnant of the Great Basin Desert, approximately 1,600 acres of which are being preserved as a conservation area. The Expansion Project adds a gallery and function room, increased exhibition area and a renewed multi-purpose courtyard. This creates a focal point for the band’s most important gatherings and events, as well as hosting both travelling exhibits and the band’s collection of indigenous art. It’s all part of a larger 200-acre master plan to explore the transformative power of sharing indigenous culture. Nk’Mip has won design accolades from across the world, including the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Award of Excellence for Innovation in Architecture, and a World Architecture Festival Award.