Inspired by the role that architecture can play in the educational environment and its impact on student success and well-being, the school was designed with children in mind. A precursor to the vast Lab-école project, this elementary school’s new typology has served to develop current architectural practices for school buildings at the MEQ.

The building has only one floor, divided in distinctive spaces carefully designed for energizing, learning, and calming activities. Each classroom is equipped with a flexible sub-classroom space that can easily be adapted to welcome different activities, which allows children to work with a variety of teachers rather than just one adult. The walls and floors of tese shared teaching areas have their own color code, helping children claim their space within this large school. A skylight and window wall have been included in each classroom, so that all users could equally benefit from natural light. In addition, the teaching areas provide direct access to the outdoor courtyard, which has been landscaped to foster biophilia.

Custom-made suspended ceilings made of wooden slats ensure optimal acoustics in classrooms and the large multipurpose room, as the fabric and insulation on which the slats are installed effectively absorb sound and prevent reverberation. Wood occupies center stage in the school's design, both in terms of structure and cladding. Enhanced by natural light, this material adds to the building's warm appearance.

A hybrid ventilation system integrated into the fixed furniture helps direct air from the occupied areas to the bottom of the walls. This air rises through a chimney effect, carrying contaminants with it before being removed through the ceiling and evacuated from the classrooms. Each classroom also has a sensor to measure CO2 levels as well as radiant floors heated and cooled by a geothermal system. The system monitors outside temperatures to anticipate needs and ensure optimal comfort inside the building.

Focused on student success, the collaborative spirit of professionals (architects, engineers, landscape architects) and the educational community (school management, teachers, material resources staff, school organization, and the community) has made the design of this innovative project possible.

The project incorporates a set of strategies aimed at reducing the building's environmental footprint throughout its life cycle. It offers a healthy and comfortable environment that promotes student learning as well as an innovative typology in terms of school buildings. It was also designed according to the principles of eco-responsibility: use of wood, natural ventilation, air quality above standards, high-performance thermal envelope, and exceptional brightness. The project is awaiting LEED v4 Gold certification.

In collaboration with Yves Woodrough architectes and Yelle Maillé et associés architectes

Awards

2023 Prix d’Excellence Cecobois Interior Design

2022     Grands Prix du Design Gold Certifications, Silver and Bronze