Designing a facility that fosters education and reflects a strong sense of culture

At a Glance

  • $17M

    Construction Value

  • 200

    Students

  • K-8

    Grades

Location
Peerless Lake, Alberta
Offices
Client
  • Alberta Infrastructure
Partners
  • Peerless and Trout First Nation
Article
First Nations school design case study
Award
LEsolutions Design Awards, Juror Award, 2021

Elizabeth Quintal School

Peerless Trout First Nation (PTFN) is an Indigenous community anchored around the Peerless and Trout Lakes in Northern Alberta. In Peerless Lake, the community required a new K-8 school that reflects their culture while creating a superior learning environment for students.

The project includes a stage, library, administration spaces, gymnasium, and a commercial kitchen. Humbled by an Elder’s memory of narrow double loaded corridors from the residential school system, our team designed the school as an open, single-loaded hallway bending in an arc, allowing for an abundance of natural light in all corners of the school. As bridging consultant, we provided full architecture, engineering, and community engagement services to bring this 200-student school to life.

As you walk past the teepee entry, the building opens into a large gathering space used for education and community events. Adorned on the wall are the Seven Sacred Animals, pillars of Cree teaching, while the floor represents Peerless Lake, allowing students to point out their homes along the shoreline. Now built, Elizabeth Quintal School will help shape a bright future for the community and celebrate the enduring legacy of PTFN.

At a Glance

  • $17M

    Construction Value

  • 200

    Students

  • K-8

    Grades

Location
Peerless Lake, Alberta
Offices
Client
  • Alberta Infrastructure
Partners
  • Peerless and Trout First Nation
Article
First Nations school design case study
Award
LEsolutions Design Awards, Juror Award, 2021

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