Founder’s Corner
SNMC Journey 8: Project 2 – Site Services, Hiring an Architect, and Building Design
In the summer of 2010, SNMC paid $1.5 million to acquire 3.2 acres of land at 3020 Woodroffe Avenue. With our project team members, we visited several mosques, including Gatineau Masjid, Masjid Bilal, Jami Omar, and AMA Masjid, to understand how they hired architects and contractors, managed their project activities, and designed their mosques. We also gathered information on their site service contractors and associated costs.
After reaching out to multiple site services contractors, SNMC decided to hire EXP, even though it was slightly more expensive. The main reason for selecting EXP was that the City of Ottawa had already hired them to handle site services for the housing areas surrounding the SNMC project. We believed this would benefit our project, and in several instances, it proved to be very helpful. The total site service cost exceeded $500,000, and most of the work was completed in 2012.
For architectural services, we received quotations from multiple firms and studied the costs and challenges faced by other mosques. After careful evaluation, we chose Shawn Lawrence, a local Ottawa architect who had previously worked on Masjid Bilal. His fees were the most affordable among all Ottawa masjid projects, totaling $125,000.
The project committee began holding weekly site meetings to supervise site service contractors and meet with the architect at his office to discuss the building design. Additionally, we organized regular community meetings at Jockvale Musallah to keep everyone informed. At least two open meetings were held at Walter Baker to share updates about the SNMC Masjid and Community Center. These efforts ensured that no community objections were raised when the project was submitted for city approval.
Unique Aspects of SNMC Masjid & Community Center
- Integrated Masjid & Community Center: Unlike many traditional mosques, SNMC was designed to combine both functions in a modern, inclusive space.
- Equal and Side-by-Side Entrances for Men & Women: Many existing masjids had unclear or separate entrances for women. Our three daughters and my wife emphasized this challenge, leading to the design of prominent, side-by-side entrances for men and women.
- Large Windows for Visibility: We installed large windows facing the main road and the adjacent school to allow passersby—whether in cars or buses—to see inside. This encouraged curiosity and led some visitors to come and learn more about the masjid.
- Elevator Near the Women’s Entrance: Since the women’s prayer hall was on the upper floor, we installed an elevator for easy access. The same elevator was designed to serve funeral services, ensuring the body could be transported efficiently between floors. It was large enough to accommodate both the deceased and accompanying individuals.
Media Documentation & Outreach
Br. Shahid Khan from Rogers Community TV assisted in documenting the construction process. He produced over 25 professional videos, capturing key milestones and helping spread awareness about the project.
With site services completed, an architect in place, and a unique community-focused design, SNMC was now ready for the next phase: construction.
