Strathcona Tweedsmuir School

Strathcona Tweedsmuir School (STS) is a private education provider for grades K to 12 set in the foothills just south of Calgary with a clear view of the Rocky Mountains. Since 2010 STS has been working with Fielding Nair International (FNI) on the schematic design of a significant expansion to better serve their existing student population and their pedagogical approach. Group2 Architecture was retained to transform their vision into built reality. The two architectural teams worked seamlessly together to create the final product.

Location Okotoks, AB

Throughout the process Group2 has worked extensively with the STS leadership, FNI architects, our consultants, and project managers to ensure that the design, program, and financial objectives were met at every level. This involved reviewing designs with teaching staff and administration at every phase of development to confirm that designs were still in service of their educational goals. It also involved rigorous analysis of design options, approaches, and materials to enable sound decision making as it related to financing and project costs.

Our work for STS focused on four key areas:

Creation of ‘21st Century’ learning environments that are open, shared, and inclusive of all learning types and needs,

Development of home-like environments that create higher levels of student comfort and therefore better learning environments,

Integration of collaborative opportunities for students, teachers, and parents throughout the school,

Design of the expansion to reflect their unique landscape and location in the Alberta Foothills, consideration of high level master plan elements to thoughtfully address the re-use of vacated portions of the school.

The site of the school is important in defining the character for the building and has a strong focus on outdoor education, it features large open fields, aspen bluffs, and a stream running through the property culminating in a small lake for kayaking to the south. The connection with the unique Albertan landscape played an important part of the materiality and massing of the architecture.

Strong peak like forms draw inspiration from the mountains, while a combination of rundlestone (the local stone of the region), wood panels and two tone white are reflective of the seasonal landscape. Large expanses of glass incorporate the landscape into the learning spaces so that students are always connected with the land.

The school is envisioned as a community building with dynamic spaces for all types of learners. There are small intimate spaces for personal reflection, reading, quiet activities, nest like spaces to gather comfortably in small groups and large gathering spaces for more energetic group activities.

These spaces are all supported by specific choices in furnishings to embrace the type of learning and create greater diversity in the environment.

Project Credits

Architect

Group2
FNI Architects

Contractor

Chandos Construction Ltd.

Strathcona Tweedsmuir School

Project Credits

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