“Learning occurs everywhere and not only in the classroom”.
This philosophy underpins the design of the addition to the Kingsway College School, a private school attached to the historically listed St. Georges-On-the-Hill Anglican church in Etobicoke. Organized to extend learning beyond traditional classrooms, the building uses shared spaces, views, and connections to nature to support a broader educational experience.
The design takes advantage of the dramatically sloping site to provide large windows to basement teaching areas and an outdoor Amphitheatre. This reinforces the relationship between indoor and outdoor learning. At the same time, a super-insulated, high performance building envelope combined with state-of-the-art mechanical systems provides comfort, durability, and energy savings, while teaching without words the importance of stewardship and environmental responsibility.
Working with the heritage listing of the church, Larkin Architect Limited successfully navigated heritage requirements without compromising client expectations or the project’s design intent.
The entrance with a green roof above
A three-storey high atrium, featuring a 10 metre high living wall, forms the “heart of the school” and serves as a central orienting device around which all of the circulation is organized. Breakout spaces on each floor overlook the atrium, offering distinctive venues for learning beyond the classroom environment.
Breakout spaces on each floor overlook the atrium
A 10m living wall anchors the atrium
The addition consisted of 12 classrooms, a gymnasium with a new viewing gallery overlooking the gymnasium and main gathering space, and a state-of-the-art science lab.
The building takes advantage of the dramatically sloping site to introduce large windows to the lower-level teaching areas, which look out onto an outdoor learning amphitheatre.
A creative use of materials and architectural detailing thoughtfully also conveys the philosophy that learning takes place everywhere, not just within the classroom.
