Inside, cedar is used for the cladding of the central lobby. "Tsimshian weaving patterns seamlessly unite the building's two student housing wings, while mimicking the expression of cedar bark," said HCMA. References to cedar went beyond the use of the material, as the metal cladding on the exterior has been shaped to resemble the patterns on cedar bark. Cedar cladding was used for much of the interior of the main structure "While the building's expression honours the cedar tree and its vital role in the forests, the cedar that was used on the exterior cladding and interior finishes was smaller dimensional sizes that do not require the use of old growth," said Callison. However, due to the increasing rarity of old-growth cedar, none was used for the building's structural elements. "Used for shelter, clothing, transportation, ceremony, and spiritual beliefs, it's been integral to local First Nations' culture for thousands of years." "The old-growth cedar tree is a symbol of the northwest coast," said HCMA.
One of the principal ways the design references local cultural heritage was through the use of cedar. Local artists contributed to the building "The process of developing the brief that HCMA responded to was built on a foundation of engagement and collaboration with the Indigenous communities that the College serves," he continued. "When we take a decolonized approach, we find ways to shift that power and develop processes where we take on the role of facilitators of the design process." "Traditionally, architects are used to having authorship over the design expression," said HCMA project architect Aiden Callison. HCMA noted the importance of cedar constructions in local building practices HCMA described the processes of decolonial architecture as "the process of deconstructing colonial structures and rebuilding them to include both western and Indigenous worldviews". The architecture studio was informed by calls for decolonial action and respect for the cultural practices of Indigenous people in colonized nation-states as described in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People when designing the facility. The central atrium has a "pin-wheel" glulam construction "Each one was built off-site to enable faster delivery times," said HCMA.
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