Manitou a bi Bii daziigae
“When we first proposed this campus expansion in the Exchange District, we wanted to create a space that embraced a new way of teaching and learning. A space that would bring together students with education and industry professionals, and a space that would embrace social innovation and enterprise, and allow us to continue to focus on groundbreaking innovative research. Number TEN and Diamond Schmitt embraced this vision and have turned it into reality. We’re very proud of this project and can’t wait to share it with the community.”
Paul Vogt, Former President & CEO, Red River College Polytechnic
Located in Winnipeg, Red River College Polytechnic’s Manitou a bi Bii daziigae (formerly known as the Innovation Centre Project) facilitates ‘thinking and learning.’ The building offers flexible space, high-tech, and interactive spaces; more importantly, it provides an atmosphere that nurtures creativity and collaboration.
Our design process began by identifying a myriad of essential experiences that inspire innovative thinking. As a guiding principle, all circulation routes are immersed in light—both as a metaphor for the enlightenment that stems from learning and also as a transparent connector, linking disciplines within the college and beyond.
A Roundhouse auditorium anchors the west corner of the new building. It has a high degree of flexibility—with an acoustically isolated space for musical events—to accommodate celebratory and instructional functions.
Front porches between classrooms and the common areas blur the boundary between structured and informal learning. These collaboration zones can double as classrooms or breakout rooms. They can also be booked independently by students for study groups.
All programs overlook and experience the agora, situated at the centre of the building. Accessible from all directions, this generous, daylit space is designed for orchestrated collisions between students and faculty, different departments, industry partners, and the college as a whole.
The Centre, located in the city’s Innovation Alley, will be a destination for an industry that is supported by the emerging entrepreneurial spirit of Winnipeg and its Red River College Polytechnic.
Client | RRC Polytech |
Completion | 2022 |
Sustainability | LEED V4 Candidate |
In Joint Venture with | Number TEN Architectural Group |
Photography | doublespace photography, Lindsay Reid, Gerry Kopelow |
Video | no hands |
Awards |
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2023 Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards – Spaces and Places Finalist
2023 Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) Award, New Construction 2023 Canadian Green Building Awards, 2023 SABMag – Institutional (Large) 2022 Prairie Design Awards – Award of Merit 2022 Heritage Winnipeg Preservation Award, Institutional Conservation Award for the Scott Fruit Building |
Team |
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Sydney Browne
Tristan Crawford Martin Davidson Martin Gauthier Emre Goktay Rui Hu Andrew Keung Michael Leckman Christiano Mahler Birgit Siber Haley Zhou |