Winnipeg, Canada

One of this summer’s largest team projects for us at Circle has been the installation of extensive museum-quality historic interpretive exhibits for The North West Company’s newly-renovated reception and lobby areas—the culmination of nearly a year’s effort. We began by thoroughly researching and then mapping out the (342-year!) history of this remarkable Canadian company, followed by conceptual display design, acquisition of historic imagery and artifacts (from the Company’s extensive collections and third-party sources), creation of comprehensive production artwork and fabrication specifications, extensive supplier liaison and supervision, and finally… the just-completed installation coordination.

Display and installation components include large-screen plasma screens (for dynamic video), digital picture frames (in coordinated mill-work), plasma-cut stainless steel signage, tempered glass on s/s offsets (to protect delicate and valuable artifacts), archival-quality float-mounted display panels, and imaged wall surfaces (hand-rendered pattern as well as die-cut vinyl applications). Artifacts included a full-size birch-bark canoe, a vintage Elan snowmobile, a 9-foot narwhal tusk, historic tools, and a selection of Inuit carvings (among other objects of note).

A big thanks goes out for Client-side support from NWC’s Marketing Director, David Lui, and his in-house team; the project architects and interior design collaborators from ft3; the helpful historians in Ottawa and Winnipeg who vetted and contributed to the comprehensive narrative; and to the top-drawer local suppliers of the fabrication, display, and exhibit installation elements.

Shown above are detail views of a portion of the “timeline wall,” one of three distinct elements of the interpretive exhibits we designed.