Government of Nunavut

Published purpose

The Hamlet of Arviat, Nunavut is situated on continuous permafrost and is highly susceptible to permafrost degradation due to global climate change, which threatens the infrastructure in northern Indigenous communities. The Arviat Air Terminal Building (ATB), which provides essential services to the aerodrome in this fly-in only community, is currently in poor condition and deteriorating as a result of permafrost degradation. As the ATB was initially built for permafrost ground conditions, in the last 30 years, the building has experienced permafrost thawing and subsequent ground shifting which has enhanced the deterioration of the structure’s foundation. The project seeks to construct a new ATB to mitigate against the impacts of the permafrost-related foundation issues experienced by the existing ATB. The new ATB will aim to use a hybrid active (mechanical) or passive thermosyphon system in the foundation to accommodate the sub-surface changes over the lifespan of the building. Thermosyphon systems are heat transfer devices which draws heat from underground and radiates it outwards. In addition, to reduce the risk of ponding underneath and around the new facility, a site drainage system will be installed, and the surrounding area will be graded.