Meadow Ridge School

The construction of the new Meadow Ridge K-9 School is considered to be one of the most engaging and comprehensive collaborations between a school division and municipality in the history of Alberta. Group2 received extensive input throughout the design from a representative team of students, teachers staff and community. The result of this mass collaboration is a school that is the perfect example of 21st Century Learning.

Location Okotoks, AB

Welcoming and Engaging Environment

The shape of the building has intricate curves and features, what we called a "butterfly roof" which acts as an accent to the building and draws you into one of the entrances where natural light streams into the two-storey atrium through clerestory windows. The open entrance and sitting area to the main floor creates a space that is both welcoming and engaging to students.

Design that Empowers it's Environment

The school has been built on a parcel of land that has preserved wetlands to the north and west of the school, the expansive rocky mountains to the west are visible through extensive daylighting and glazing throughout the school. The outdoor learning environment and property setbacks in place for the stewardship of an environmental legacy and is a reflection of 'coming south from the valley to the ridge.

Materials chosen for the exterior not only complement the surrounding vista, but respect the site on which it stands. The school is a combination of brick veneer, red aluminum composite panels, longboard cladding, and galvanized and grey corrugated metal cladding.

"We have had the opportunity to design for future intersections of intention and purpose and integration of learning and environment, while interacting with nature and the community. The opportunity for the design and build of this new K-9 Meadow Ridge School has established a new level of engagement and collaboration with municipal partners and community. It has been the catalyst to provincial recognition of engagement and partnerships with the local school divisions, municipality and community"

Christopher Fuzessy
Superintendent of Schools, Foothills School Division