August 28, 2023
September promises to be an exciting time for Architecture49 as we unveil three extraordinary educational projects. Led by their own specialized teams in education planning and design, these projects showcase our commitment to designing innovative learning environments across Canada. From the culturally immersive North Caribou Lake First Nation School to cutting-edge Faculty of Health Sciences Centre at the University of Ottawa, and the modern oasis of learning at West Bedford School in Nova Scotia, these visionary projects showcase our expertise in shaping spaces that inspire minds, empower communities, and pave the way for a brighter future.
North Caribou Lake First Nation will be home to a new Kindergarten to Grade 12 school. Designed in harmony with its breathtaking surroundings, the 4,830 square meter school will accommodate up to 500 students and is strategically placed near the community hub for shared resource utilization. Embracing a design philosophy that celebrates culture and place, the design is representative of the tranquil allure with natural rhythms of a forest, allowing natural sunlight to fill the space through high-level clerestory windows. The design approach has created a nurturing environment that fosters a positive self-identity, celebrates cultural heritage, prioritizes language preservation, and offers diverse high school programs.
In the suburban community outside of Halifax lies the new West Bedford School, the province’s largest public school to date. Designed under a collaborative design-build delivery model with PCL Construction, the 2,000-student structure combines two schools: a Pre-Primary to Grade 8 and a Grade 9 to 12. While each school maintains its identity, they will share central spaces like the cafetorium (a hybrid cafeteria and auditorium), athletic facilities, and performing arts areas. The elementary school focuses on flexibility and interdisciplinary learning, featuring glazed walls and sliding doors for dynamic education. The High School blends specialty Science Technology Engineering Arts Math (STEAM) spaces with traditional classrooms and collaboration corridors, catering to skilled trades and innovation programs.
The University of Ottawa will feature a magnificent new campus along the banks of the Rideau River that is a new home for the Faculty of Health Sciences. Delivered under a fast track design-build model also with PCL Construction, this modern space will foster wellness, connection, and pride among students and personnel while encouraging innovative and experiential learning and research. The campus will bring together students from nursing, nutrition sciences, and rehabilitation sciences, along with professors, researchers, and personnel from all five schools within the Faculty, providing an inspiring and welcoming home for all. Embracing the spirit of collaboration, it features an indigenous tree grove that pays tribute to the region's heritage, a teaching circle promoting experiential learning, and thoughtfully designed traditional planting gardens. Designated to achieve LEED Platinum certification and featuring an impressive TEDI (Thermal Energy Demand Intensity) rating, this Campus will be one of Ottawa’s most sustainable buildings.
As the projects are in final preparations to open their doors to eager students, our dedication to creating innovative learning environments in Canada shines through. With a focus on culture, identity, and academic excellence, these schools represent a promising future for students and communities.