Douglas Park School

Regina, Canada

Add To Collection

Other Projects by Number TEN Architectural Group

Add To Collection

Douglas Park School

Regina, Canada

Firm

Number TEN Architectural Group

Type

Educational › Elementary School

YEAR

2011

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

BUDGET

$10M - 50M

Douglas Park Elementary School in Regina, Canada represents a new era in early years education. A departure from the traditional ‘bells and cells’ approach to school design, every square foot of Douglas Park Elementary is set up to inspire and invigorate a new generation of tech-savvy, globally connected and forward thinking students.

“There is no precedent for Douglas Park School in Canada,” says Greg Hasiuk of Number TEN Architectural Group, the architect of record for the project. “The majority of its innovative design features were entirely new ideas that needed to be thought about many times over before the best solution was determined. “

Designed in close association with Fielding Nair International, the school is built around a central hub, known as the Commons. The commons connects to various flexible and customizable learning communities which take on a variety of shapes and configurations to increase the flexibility of the space and promote innovative learning activities.

An Integrated Design Process, which engaged the local community, students, teachers and school board into all aspects of the design, generated a multitude of key ideas, many of which were incorporated into the 50,000 square foot school.
The building’s orientation and window configurations take maximum advantage of natural sunlight, while a high-performance building envelope features a passive solar wall made of perforated metal that uses the sun’s natural energy to pre-heat cold winter air before it enters the mechanical heating system.

The school itself provides opportunities for learning by making various mechanical components visible. For example, the heated floor contains sections where glass panels reveal the mechanical components underneath. These design elements turn the building into a learning experience unto itself.

Douglas Park’s many unique features result in an innovative learning environment that encourages creativity, collaboration and a sense of connectedness to the world outside.