Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo Hotel Opens for Business in British Columbia

The Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo, a 172-key business-class hotel located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, has recently opened. This new hotel positions the city of Nanaimo for further growth, while also honoring the Snuneymuxw First Nation’s rich history, art and culture.

Located adjacent to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, the Courtyard by Marriott Nanaimo represents a significant collaborative effort between real estate investment firm PEG, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, the city of Nanaimo and other project partners, including Omicron Construction.

Ground was broken in February 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which later created many hurdles to overcome, including labor shortages, elevated construction costs and travel restrictions. Through diligence and creativity, these challenges were overcome to deliver the upscale hotel.

The hotel has the benefit of being located on culturally significant land where the beloved, and now extinct, Wool Dogs were cared for by the Snuneymuxw people. In recognition of this, the hotel has integrated site-specific Snuneymuxw art throughout its design, including in its guest rooms and public spaces.

To construct the nine-story building, PEG partnered with Nexxi Building Solutions Inc. The company’s low-carbon, concrete alternative panels for the exterior sped up construction time and reduced the climate impact, nearly diminishing the onsite construction waste that traditional builds typically produce. This is a flagship project for Nexii, using their panels to deliver the exterior building envelope of a multi-level building. The 750 unique structural panels are manufactured in the Squamish plant with integrated finishes, services and windows. They are precision-manufactured to client specifications using 3D software. This building solution enables rapid onsite assembly.

A community-wide ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate construction completion is planned for this May.