Francophone School

In 2008 Sheppard Case were the architects for the $2.5 million École Boréal francophone school located in Happy Valley - Goose Bay. The prime consultants were Atlantic Engineering Ltd. of Corner Brook, but Sheppard Case were directly involved with the client for the duration of the project.

École Boréal is a one-storey, 553 m² (5,950 sf) facility for stu­dents from french-speaking families in the community. There are single classrooms for preschool children, primary and elementary students and a shared junior and senior high class room. There is a multi-purpose room adjacent to the high school classroom with a ceiling-mounted operable wall that allows both rooms to be combined to create an 82 m² (850 sf) auditorium of sorts. There is an implied stage area in the corner of the joined space delineated by lowered ceiling bulkheads, curtains and a different floor finish. The school also includes a special needs classroom, a library, general office area and a staff lunch room.

The building is constructed on a floating slab with polystyrene insulated concrete form walls and a wooden roof. The roof is insulated outboard of the sheathing which allows mechanical equipment to be located in the attic space without having to compromise insulating levels. An important feature in a cold cli­mate like central Labrador. The interior walls are concrete block in high-traffic areas and steel stud and gypsum board elsewhere.

Day lighting was identified as an important design consideration by the client early in the design process. All occupied spaces have access to ample natural light and views and all classrooms have windows on adjacent, perpendicular walls to provide ad­equate draft for natural ventilation.

CLIENT: Conseil Scolaire Francophone Provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador

SERVICES: Architect

BUDGET: $2.5 million

SIZE: 553 m²

LOCATION: Happy Valley - Goose Bay, Labrador

STATUS: Completed 2008