ST. JOHN’S, NL (CANADA)—Newfoundland and Labrador’s long-awaited replacement for Her Majesty’s Penitentiary has officially moved into its next phase, marking a transformational moment in the province’s correctional landscape. With New Avalon Corrections Partners (NACP) reaching financial close and finalizing the project agreement with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the integrated design firm DLR Group—serving as design architect—will help lead one of the most significant justice-infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Atlantic Canada.
The project arrives at a pivotal time. Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, built in 1859, has long been criticized for outdated infrastructure and limitations that hinder contemporary correctional practices. The new facility, replacing the historic structure in St. John’s, promises a modern, humane, and purpose-built environment aligned with today’s best practices in rehabilitation, mental-health care, staff support, and secure operations.
Delivered through a 30-year Public-Private Partnership (P3), the agreement sets in motion the design, construction, financing, and long-term maintenance of a fundamentally reimagined correctional environment for the province.
“This win illustrates the importance of building long-term relationships with experienced equity partners and leading justice sector contractors,” said Darrell Stelling, AIA, DBIA, Senior Principal, Global Justice+Civic Leader with DLR Group. “As stewards of the built environment, our Justice+Civic studio elevates behavioral, environmental, and social betterment, resulting in healing, equity, and transformation for individuals and communities across Canada.”
Stelling’s remarks speak to DLR Group’s growing portfolio of justice projects that intentionally shift away from punitive environments toward restorative, evidence-based design. Their work with NACP reinforces that trajectory, bringing a multidisciplinary mindset to a region ready for meaningful change.
DLR Group’s Justice+Civic studio is applying its award-winning experience to create a facility rooted in dignity, safety, and long-term community benefit.
“The replacement facility is more than just a new building; it embodies a new paradigm of care and custody in a secure environment – one that respects the human condition and individual dignity,” said Andrew Cupples, FAIA, DBIA, senior principal and national Justice+Civic design leader at DLR Group. “This design prioritizes direct and interactive supervision and management while aiming to achieve better outcomes for inmates and staff, their families, and the wider community.”
Cupples’ words cut to the core of the project philosophy: shifting a correctional system toward approaches proven to reduce recidivism, improve safety, and foster positive behavioral change. Architecture, in this case, is not a backdrop but a driver of operational culture.
A Collaborative P3 Model
The partnership reflects a cross-sector commitment to modernizing Newfoundland and Labrador’s correctional system. As Hafeez Habib, senior vice president – asset delivery at Plenary Americas, noted, “Plenary Americas and PCL Investments are pleased to partner with the members of the NACP team to deliver this important infrastructure investment for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Reaching financial close marked a significant milestone and reflects the strong collaboration and commitment of all parties involved.”
The NACP consortium includes Plenary Americas and PCL Investments Inc. as developer and equity providers; PCL/Marco, a Joint Venture, as design-builder; Parkin as prime architect; John Hearn as local associate architect; and Johnson Controls Inc. as service provider. DLR Group serves as design architect, bringing national and international justice design expertise.
Design and construction are expected to span 50 months, with completion anticipated in fall 2029.
Purpose-Built Facility
The new facility’s 295,000 square feet of program and housing areas are organized to reflect best practices in secure treatment and rehabilitation. Instead of antiquated cell blocks and outdated services, the design introduces:
- Thoughtfully programmed spaces to support treatment and skill building;
- Shared environments that encourage constructive social interaction;
- A dedicated Health Services Unit for medical and mental-health support;
- Recreation, training, and wellness amenities designed inclusively for residents and staff; and
- Accommodations for female residents, expanding the province’s ability to provide equitable care.
Every element is grounded in research that correlates physical environment with behavioral outcomes—an approach increasingly recognized across North America.
Natural light, a crucial element in contemporary justice design, plays a defining role. Clerestory windows strategically placed throughout the building provide daylight that enhances privacy while supporting mental and physical wellness. This careful balance reflects the project’s emphasis on human dignity, security, and therapeutic benefit.
Room layouts and communal spaces reinforce these goals, offering increased visibility for staff, safer interactions, and opportunities for programming that supports independence and life-skills development.
Smart Design That Responds to Site and Climate
The St. John’s location presents both opportunities and challenges—terrain, prevailing weather patterns, and local ecology all shaped the architectural response.
The two-story structure is built into the site’s sloping terrain on Newfoundland’s eastern edge, improving circulation and providing direct outdoor connections from both levels. This layout benefits mobility, operational efficiency, and supervised access to outdoor spaces—an important component of resident well-being.
Durability also drove key design decisions. The Maritime Barrens ecoregion is known for harsh winds, driving rain, heavy snow loads, and rapid shifts in seasonal extremes. The facility’s envelope and materials were selected to withstand these conditions, supporting longevity and reducing long-term maintenance costs—an essential consideration under the P3 model.
Resilience, therefore, is not simply a design feature but a reflection of the building’s expected multi-decade service to the province.
Designed for Transformation
While many contemporary correctional projects seek to humanize environments, Newfoundland and Labrador’s replacement facility stands out because of how directly it connects local needs, modern operations, and future-ready infrastructure.
The building’s specialized housing unit, expanded program spaces, health services, and attention to mental-health recovery signal a shift from containment to rehabilitation. The design also responds to staff needs, offering training and wellness spaces that recognize the high stress and complexity of correctional work.
DLR Group’s Justice+Civic team emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between architecture and outcomes—a philosophy clearly embedded in this project. Their approach, supported by research and decades of experience, reinforces the belief that safer, healthier, more respectful environments contribute to safer communities overall.
A New Era for Newfoundland and Labrador
When the new adult correctional facility opens in 2029, Newfoundland and Labrador will retire a 165-year-old penitentiary and step into an entirely different model of custody and care. Through a collaborative P3 structure, a deeply experienced design and construction team, and a forward-thinking government initiative, the province is creating a facility that aligns with global best practices in rehabilitation, treatment, and secure management.
Most of all, the project represents a shift toward a justice system that values dignity, safety, and better futures—for residents, staff, and the communities they return to.
