Vancouver, BC, Opens School Built Entirely of Prefabricated CLT

The Vancouver School Board has completed wək̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm Elementary School, the first school building in the district to be constructed entirely of prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels, Canadian Architect reported (9-6-24).

The school is part of a Vancouver School Board pilot project to assess the possibilities of mass timber for future schools and was designed by hcma architecture + design.

The school’s new hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ name means “the sun rising over the horizon” and was gifted by Musqueam Indian Band, who was inspired by the Hastings Sunrise neighborhood where the school is located.

The school features ample natural light and extensive use of wood. The C$22.4 million, 3,385 m² (36,436 ft²) school is able to accommodate a total of 340 students and is located in a predominantly single-family residential neighborhood in northeast Vancouver. The 3.45-acre site contains three tiers which include the existing school located on the upper tier, the new replacement school on the middle tier, and play areas are on the lower tier.

“wək̓ʷan̓əs tə syaqʷəm Elementary School is a departure from the dark, insular schools of the past. Here, we have natural light and open spaces, textural and tactile surfaces, and places for learning, collaboration, play, and quiet retreat,” said Karen Marler, principal, hcma architecture + design, told Canadian Architect. “Our goal was to design a place of learning that children deserve, where they feel comfortable, inspired to collaborate, and safe to explore, where they can play loudly in the gym, or find a quiet alcove to recharge.”

The new school replaces an older school which was built in 1922 on the site, and was at high seismic risk, not universally accessible, and with building systems past their service life. It will remain in use temporarily as a “swing site” for other replacement school projects, prior to being demolished to make way for a future sports field.