Welcome to UBC’s First Nations Longhouse Building!
Access to the Building: To avoid disrupting the work of those inside, we ask that you view the First Nations Longhouse from the exterior only.
Click here to enjoy the Building’s Narrated Audio Tour
This emblematic building is located in the northwest corner of the Point Grey Campus at UBC. As you approach the building, you will notice the intent to emphasize the First Nations’ long regional history and cultural practice of using wood for community buildings. The First Nations Longhouse (FNL) is part of the First Nations House of Learning facility, which houses the Native Indian Teacher Education Program, Faculty of Education and the UBC First Nations Student Association programs.
The building serves as a home away from home to the First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, faculty and staff on campus. Here, community members can meet, engage in activities, and share their knowledge, culture and experiences with each other. In addition to the Longhouse, the House of Learning includes the Xwi7xwa (pronounced whei-wha) Library, based on the circular form of Interior Salish pit houses, and the traditional Spirit Renewal Hall.
The Longhouse is shaped like the typical Musqueam-style shed. It has only a single storey, and utilizes heavy timber structure construction that is aligned with the cardinal compass directions. Within the Longhouse are administration offices, seminar rooms, a resource centre and workshop, elders’ hall, and a Great Hall. The Great Hall (Sty-Wet-Tan), which is the focal point of the FNL, is a magnificent showcase for traditional wood building techniques.
As you make your way around the exterior of this building, make sure to stop by outside the Great Hall. Notice that the astonishing house-posts and supporting roof beams are all hand carved in traditional First Nations designs by local artists.
Project Facts:
| Architects: | Larry MacFarland (now MacFarland Marceau Architects Ltd.) |
| Structural Engineers: | CWMM Consulting Engineers Ltd. |
| Construction Manager: | Heatherbrae Builders |
| Size: | 2,000 m2 |
| Completed: | 1992 |
We highly encourage that you visit the Official Website of the First Nations Longhouse Building for more information.
Make sure to visit all of the features of the building before moving on to the next stop.
General Information
Sustainability Features
Continue to CIRS Building 