Where Culture Meets Design: The Chief Crop Eared Wolf Peacemaking Centre

Engineering meaningful spaces in a significant and lasting way requires an understanding of the needs of a community and the ability to bring a shared vision to life. The Makoyopisstooki (Chief Crop Eared Wolf) Peacemaking Centre for Harmony, Justice and Equity is a testament to this approach. Developed for the Kainai Nation, the project in Standoff, Alberta reflects a long-standing commitment to restorative justice and cultural empowerment. 

We spoke with Amy Rohof, Associate, to learn more about the Chief Crop Eared Wolf Peacemaking Centre, the design process, and the experience of working on a project that has been many years in the making.  ENtuitive: To start, can you describe the purpose of the project and the role our team played? Amy: The Chief Crop Eared Wolf Peacemaking Centre, previously known as the Kainai Peacemaking Centre, has been in development for nearly 15 years. The Kainai tribe has worked toward creating a justice space that supports peacemaking, where parties come together to find a resolution. The centre will house both the tribe's peacemaking program and a future provincial court. 

Our team at Entuitive provided structural engineering and building envelope services. We collaborated closely with Kasian Architecture, Larkspur, and Clark Builders throughout the process.

Up-close shot of the structural and envelope work in progress. 

EN: What were some of the main challenges your team encountered during design and construction? Amy: The extended timeline created one of the biggest challenges. With a project unfolding over many years, the budget shifted and required several rounds of value engineering. We wanted to keep the original vision intact while finding ways to make it achievable. For example, the initial plan included a full rammed earth wall. To stay within budget, we introduced two exterior rammed earth feature wings that preserved the design intent. 

EN: How did the climate and location influence your decisions?

Amy: The climate on the prairies also influenced many decisions. Extreme weather conditions made it difficult to use certain materials. Real wood was not suitable for the exterior, so we chose an aluminum product that has the appearance of wood but performs better in harsh conditions.

            Construction underway with teams navigating extreme winter weather conditions.           

Since the site is in a remote location, we also had to account for the availability of local trades and the need to source materials from larger cities. That shaped how we approached both the design and construction planning.  EN: Looking back, what part of this project has been most meaningful for you? Amy: The grand opening was my favourite experience. Seeing the completed building, including the circular form and the rammed earth features, was very rewarding. Hearing from the Nation's leaders about what the centre means to the community made the moment even more special.

   The Nation’s leaders speaking at the grand opening ceremony on October 7^th, 2025.

Engineers do not always get direct feedback from the people who will use the buildings we help design. In this case, we were able to see the impact firsthand, which was incredibly meaningful. 

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