Thursday, July 23, 2026
Housing NWT marked a major construction milestone with a “topping out ceremony” for the 50‑unit social housing multi-plex currently under development in downtown Yellowknife. The ceremony celebrated the placement of the final beam on the building’s roof structure.
The development will provide 50 units of social housing, including 25 barrier‑free units designed to support seniors and single residents, and 25 two‑bedroom units for small families. The building will also include office space for Housing NWT’s North Slave District Office and a service location for the Yellowknife Housing Authority, improving access to services at a central, accessible street‑level location.
“The 50‑Plex project is a key part of the GNWT’s work to increase the availability, accessibility and affordability of housing across the territory. Today’s milestone brings us one step closer to delivering 50 new homes that will expand housing options for residents and help address growing demand in Yellowknife. We will continue to invest in projects like this to deliver more homes where they are needed and support long-term housing solutions across the Northwest Territories,” said Lucy Kuptana, Minister of Housing Northwest Territories .
This project reflects Housing NWT’s ongoing efforts to increase access to safe, modern and energy‑efficient housing across the territory. The building incorporates sustainable design features, including prefabricated mass timber, panelized wall systems and biomass heating, to improve energy efficiency and reduce long‑term operating costs. By combining innovative construction methods with durable and sustainable materials, this project supports our long-term goal of delivering homes that are designed to address the unique challenges of northern climates.
“As Yellowknife continues to grow, housing remains the most important foundation for our community’s future. We are seeing investment, opportunity, and momentum across our city. Ensuring people have access to housing needs to be our focus. The 50-Plex project is an important step forward and a reflection of the collaborative effort required to address housing needs in the North,” said Ben Hendriksen, Mayor, City of Yellowknife.
Over the past three months, construction advanced rapidly under PCL Construction, with work focusing on the erection of mass timber structural components and the building enclosure system. Key structural elements were fabricated off‑site over the winter, allowing on‑site assembly in downtown Yellowknife to proceed quickly and efficiently. On-site, PCL is partnered with local sub-contractors, suppliers and construction service providers to complete the next phases of the project: J&R Mechanical, DT Electric, NWT Construction, CR Enterprises, Slades Fire Protection, Look HVAC Systems, Canuck Concrete Pumping and Crane, Paul Bros Nextreme, Ideal Woodwork, Tetra Tech, Det’on Cho Challenger Geomatics, Preventative Security Services, Kavanaugh, North Shore Waste Management and Ron’s Equipment Rental & Industrial Supply.
“One of the most basic and important needs we all share is a safe place to call home. With the cost of living continuing to rise across the NWT, affordable housing matters now more than ever. This new 50-unit apartment building in Yellowknife Centre is a meaningful step forward, and I am proud to be part of delivering real housing results for residents,” said Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre.
Featured image: (L to R) Michael Saturnino; Shauna Morgan (MLA); Daniel Korver; Rebecca Alty, Rebecca Alty, MP for Northwest Territories; Ben Hendrickson, Mayor, City of Yellowknife; Robert Hawkins (MLA); R.J. Simpson, Premier; Kieron Testart (MLA); Caitlin Cleaveland (MLA); Julian Moese (MLA); Kyle Wilson; and Kate Reid (MLA). (GNWT)
The project is funded through CMHC’s Rapid Housing Initiative.
The 50-unit multi-plex will consist of 25 barrier-free bachelor suites for seniors and singles and 25 two-bedroom units for small families.
Structural components were manufactured off-site in Winter 2025-26.
Expected construction completion date: Spring 2027
Featured image: (GNWT)
