MOAPAA museum planned for Indigenous art in Alberta

SPECTACLE Bureau for Architecture and Urbanism has unveiled plans for the Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art and Artifacts (MOAPAA) at the Portage College campus in Lac La Biche, Alberta. The 1,630-square-meter facility is designed to house the world’s most extensive collection of works by the Professional Native Indian Artists Inc. (PNIAI), a group founded in 1973.

The architectural design incorporates seven elliptical paths representing the historic members of the PNIAI. The building features a kinetic timber screen that responds to wind, mimicking the surrounding Trembling Aspen trees. A roof garden will host ceremonial plants such as sage and sweetgrass, while the interior utilizes an adaptable exhibition system with retractable platforms to move away from traditional fixed gallery layouts.

Constructed primarily with locally sourced mass timber, the museum will employ sustainable systems including geothermal exchange and heat recovery. To protect the collection from climate-related risks, the storage vaults are designed to withstand significant forest fires. The project is currently in the schematic design and fundraising phase, with an anticipated completion date in 2030.