University of Victoria—INDIGENOUS LAW WING

Project info

The Indigenous Law wing at the University of Victoria (UVic), completed in 2025, is a 29,000 sq ft mass timber addition to UVic’s Fraser Building. It houses Canada’s first degree program integrating Canadian Common Law and Indigenous legal traditions. Designed in collaboration with the local Indigenous groups, the new wing includes classrooms, faculty offices, meeting spaces, a creation space, a sky classroom, a 150-seat lecture hall, an Elder’s room, and large gathering areas with ventilation systems that support smudging ceremonies. The project also modernized the Fraser Building with updated flooring, ceilings, washrooms, common areas, and improved sprinkler and heating systems.

Houle provided electrical and technology solutions across multiple construction phases: Duct Bank and Foundations, Fraser Building Renewals, Heat Plant and Unit Sub, and the law wing itself. Our scope included a 12.5kV unit substation and transformer serving both buildings, 800A and 600A 600V Main Distribution Panels (for each building), six sub-distribution panelboards, and 15 branch circuit panels. We also installed lighting, controls, fire alarm, and grounding systems, along with data rough-in and cabling for access control, security infrastructure, and audiovisual systems. Additionally, while engaged through a separate contract, our Buildings Controls team worked closely with the rest of the project team to ensure coordinated delivery for all aspects of Houle’s scope.