An innovative rebuild of a deteriorating school

École Joseph-Moreau Replacement School

Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord received government funding to complete a CAD15 million ($11.2 million) rebuild of the deteriorating École Joseph-Moreau (EJM) School. The replacement school now sits on the same site as the previous EJM Junior High School and the condemned 1913 Ritchie School, both of which were demolished to make way for the new 500-student building.

Along with our sub-consultants, we designed the new EJM to include modern learning principles, natural light, historical context acknowledgement, and integration into the neighborhood’s urban fabric—priorities identified during initial stakeholder consultation. The architectural design solution balances with the contemporary feel of a neighborhood full of urban infill projects, while subtly honoring the 1913 school through pattern and scale. We also developed a new site layout including sports fields, play areas, parking lots, and drop off loops that safely separate foot and vehicular traffic as well as a demolition plan to consider construction noise and access restrictions for current students.

The new school campus will serve many future students and become a year-round gathering spot for many joint-use agreements and sports field programs. The project’s design includes CAD750,000 ($557,800) worth of photovoltaics and is targeting LEED® v.4 requirement.