This 10,000 sq. ft. addition to Ecole Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys accommodates the full-day Early Learning kindergarten addition program of the Kenora Catholic District School Board. The addition consists of four kindergarten classrooms, two grade one classrooms, and associated ancillary space including two integrated outdoor classrooms, and parents lobby.

The project is an addition to an existing elementary school circa 1970 which had a primary structural system of glulam beams with a low slope wood roof deck. In this context, glulam and fir wood deck became the default structural material. The roof’s slope was inverted to differentiate the new addition from the existing school.

While there is an extensive use of glass to build the connection to the outside world, the glazing was largely utilized fronting the integral outdoor classroom courtyards to shade the windows to prevent overheating yet still provide a substantial amount of daylight.

THIS PROJECT WAS THE WINNER OF THE ONTARIO WOODWORKS NORTHERN ONTARIO EXCELLENCE AWARD 2015