As part of the 2016 budget, the Government of Canada earmarked approximately $50 million over two years to upgrade healthcare facilities in Manitoba First Nations. God's Lake First Nation, a community of 2,715 members and 1037 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, received $20 million of that funding to develop a new primary care nursing station and (attached) nurses' residence building. 

In association with Ininew Limited Partnership, the First Nation community retained ft3 through an RFP process to design and construct the new buildings, providing residences for 13 staff and health services covering emergency, outpatient clinic, diagnostic (lab and x-ray), pharmacy, and community.

ft3 conducted community consultation workshops as part of the design process, confirming appropriate service delivery (a winter road is only open from February to March) and addressing renal dialysis and other program needs in the community. These discussions also informed the project's concept development, where three options—each with a distinct theme and character—took shape. 

The community ultimately selected the revered Thunderbird to develop the design, focusing on material, colour, and cultural influence throughout the space. We embodied this legendary creature through the dramatic angular wing canopy, illuminating and guiding visitors to the main entrance. Angled timber columns also accentuate this entrance (and the emergency entrances), integrating with the surrounding forest. Finally, we incorporated the colours of the God's Lake First Nation flag into the material details, including white, black, red, and yellow colours in the roof and the Thunderbird floor inlay.