We’re honoured to support the ongoing rebuilding efforts in Lytton, BC, through our work on the new Nzen’man’ (Birds Nest) Child and Family Development Centre—the first community building to begin construction since the devastating 2021 Lytton Fire.

For the Nlaka’pamux Nation, the original Child and Family Development Centre was far more than a building. It was a place of early learning, culture, safety, support, and connection—lost in moments when the wildfire swept through the community.
Today, the Birds Nest Project stands as a powerful symbol of hope, resilience, and Indigenous-led healing.

Designed to the Canada Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon standards, the new centre will feature rammed earth walls, geothermal systems, reclaimed wildfire timber, and intentional spaces shaped through community storytelling and visioning. When complete, it will provide:

• 66 licensed child care spaces
• A Family Resource Centre and teaching kitchen
• A cultural gathering room and Indigenous library
• Intergenerational social spaces and outdoor community areas

This project is made possible through the collaboration and support of:

• Infrastructure Canada – Green & Inclusive Community Buildings
• Lytton First Nation – Land designation
• BC Aboriginal Child Care Society
• Write to Read BC
• Obsidian Architecture Ltd. – An Indigenous- and women-led firm specializing in generational, community-rooted design
• Built Contracting Ltd. – Serving Indigenous Nations with care and construction excellence
• Nlaka’pamux Knowledge Keepers, families, and staff – whose vision shaped every detail

At Design Works Engineering, our Fire Protection team is proud to contribute to this meaningful community milestone in partnership with Alliance Fire Protection by preparing hydraulic calculations and fire sprinkler layouts for building permit submission.

The Birds Nest is more than a building. It’s a promise to the next generation.