Dakota Dunes
Illuminated Indigenous Themes at First Nations Resort in Saskatchewan
by Jason Broadhurst, director, architectural marketing, Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.
Whitecap Dakota First Nation has created a destination resort like no other in Saskatchewan. Dakota Dunes Resort is a self-funded project showcasing Indigenous themes and creating unique cultural experiences for its visitors and guests. Completed during the height of the pandemic, the 155-room hotel and conference center is the final piece of a hospitality complex that includes a casino and golf course. aodbt architecture + interior design, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in collaboration with LEMAYMICHAUD Architecture Design, Montréal, Quebec, worked with the Whitecap Dakota First Nation to design and develop this multi-million-dollar resort hotel. The overall motif explores the Indigenous themes of fire, water, earth, and air, each of which is represented in a specific area of the hotel.
In the early stages of the project, the intent was to design and produce custom lighting fixtures. However, the pandemic created various challenges concerning availability, so the aodbt team collaborated with Titan Electrical Group Inc. to re-imagine the lighting. Eureka Lighting luminaires were selected for several areas of the hotel.
Water is the theme for the exhibit corridor, which is the main artery between the lobby, conference rooms, and the bar and restaurant. Floor-to-ceiling windows line one side. In this space, Celeste luminaires are suspended over exhibit cases along the windows, which display Indigenous artifacts and special gift shop items. The clean, minimalist pendant features an elegant artisanal casted glass disc. Light is blended through an internal diffuser, sending warm illumination over the cases below.
“We selected Celeste because of the organic shape of the glass on the fixture and the ability to stagger multi-stack fixtures. This blended seamlessly with the element of water in this corridor,” said Nicole Tiessen, principal at aodbt and lead interior designer for the hotel. “Also, we staggered single and double luminaires along the corridor to create the illusion of rain coming down.”
Eureka’s Focus luminaire provides ambient lighting along the corridor, installed as pendant and surface mounts along ceiling tracks. The luminaire spotlights decorative features along the hallway while effectively illuminating the floor below. A black finish against a black track and ceiling ensures that it effectively blends into its environment.
Earth themes are illustrated in the restaurant and bar areas. While the restaurant is not a large room, its ceiling is very high. So, lighting was used as an architectural feature to define different zones within the space. Four Alver luminaires are suspended below acoustic bulkheads to illuminate the seating areas. Nine light sources around the 42″ diameter ring provide uplight to the wooden bulkheads and down to the tables. Also, because of its large scale, the lighting location does not limit the placing or spacing of the furniture.
The importance of the cattle industry, and the role of the bison in traditional Indigenous culture, is represented in the restaurant and bar through the color palettes, fabric, and graphics. Designers chose Eureka’s Mute fixture for the bar area because its shape and felt panels subtly represent a basket weaving. Ten oversized pendants are suspended randomly and at different heights across the elevated bar ceiling, bringing down the visual volume of the space. In two neutral colors, the luminaires also complement the textures and colors in the rest of the room.
“Mute’s acoustics properties were an unexpected bonus for us,” said Tiessen. “The luminaires help to control the ambient noise generated from the high ceilings and cement floors but also creates a visual that is soft, layered, and textural.”
Guestroom design reflects the air theme, with plenty of natural light, patterning in the carpet, and a lighter color palette. From the Nation’s leadership, Chief Bear, a headdress photo has been transformed into a graphic wallpaper behind every room’s headboard. The sacred piece needed to be the focal point. In place of standard table lamps, designers used sleek Scout pendants above each nightstand. With a small 2.75” aperture, the 18”-high black pendants are discreet while directing a narrow beam of light over the surface.
The project has been a significant one for the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, bringing significant employment opportunities during construction and now in operations and management. It has generated a good deal of excitement and positive feedback, and the community is incredibly proud of the result.
“Our team was honored to be a part of such an important project for Whitecap Dakota First Nation and to have created something special for the community” Tiessen said. “We are thrilled with how the lighting complements the architecture and supports the Indigenous themes throughout. Each fixture in place adds a lot of interest and depth to our design concept.”
