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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 | 65 Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Elementary School R EN D ER I N G CO U RT E S Y K EE WAT I N -A S K I LT D. BIIGTIGONG NISHNAABEG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL by STACEY MCLACHLAN T he new Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Elementary School is an incred- ible educational resource for the local students. However the process to just getting to opening day offered at least one key lesson that the team behind this incredible education com- plex will never forget: it's never too late to start over. After an overly ambitious first design fell flat due to cost, the Biigtigong Nishnaabeg development team found themselves starting over with a reduced construction budget and only an eagle-shaped gravel patch to show for it. "The community val- ues education so much. We had such huge dreams and ideas, and it added up," explains Lisa Michano, education director for the school. But rather than be defeated by the false start, the team took it as an opportunity to streamline and shed some of the more complicated design elements to create a campus where every detail, every square inch, was purposeful and essential. And of course, the intent of making the best possible educational facility for the kids was still there for Take Two. They deserved it, after decades of studying at the previous, dilapidated campus. "It had seen better days," says Michano. "There was never a gym. There was never a real cafeteria. The basement was being used as a classroom; classes were being held in 20-year-old portables." In other words: this rebuild was a long time coming. One look at the new 29,924- square-feet campus, designed by Architecture49 (A49), and it's clear it was worth the wait. The building is clean, bright, and airy, with ample natural light that pours through clere- story windows. It's not complicated or overly indulgent, but it's also certainly anything but boring, thanks to warm woods that nod to the community's deep-rooted connection to nature. "A positive self-identity is reinforced by association with natural materials, nature, and the land on entry to the building," explains Victor Kolynchuk, architect with A49. The First Nation's culture is every- where you look here. The layout of the flooring will resemble a stream, for instance, and the home econom- ics classroom opens up to a traditional cooking and food-sharing space out- side the doors. "Those elements that represent our community, that resem- ble us, are so important. It's not just a Plain Jane building," says Michano. The building is oriented to the nearby daycare and health centre, cementing its place at the heart of the community, and the main entrance opens up to a south-facing cafeteria with views of the nature trails beyond. Importantly, the new design finally pulls all the classrooms into one building. "Having everybody under one roof? We've never experienced that," says Michano. "Some of the teachers are laughing, realizing we'll have an intercom for the first time." The playground and sport fields will be just as important to the kids and teachers; when school starts, they'll also have access to outdoor learning environments, a large fire pit, and outdoor play spaces (like an outdoor ice rink). Environmental sustainability is another cornerstone of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg's vision for its new ele- mentary school. The facility was designed with energy efficiency in mind, utilizing cutting-edge tech- nologies and sustainable materials to minimize its ecological footprint. A timber frame design and extensive wood products form the structure; there's also a high-efficiency HVAC system, including a concrete slab- on-grade with an in-floor hydronic heating system. From interactive classrooms to a vast library and resource centre, the school empowers students and LOCATION 78 Pic River Rd., Heron Bay, Ontario OWNER /DEVELOPER Biigtigong Nishnaabeg PROJECT MANAGER Keewatin-Aski Ltd. ARCHITECT/L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Architecture49 GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Finnway General Contractor STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT WSP MECHANICAL /ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT MCW TOTAL SIZE 29,924 square feet TOTAL COST $21.5 million educators alike to explore innovative teaching methodologies and embrace a culture of continuous learning. The school is slated to open in December: a dream (finally) come true. "We didn't want to accept a cookie-cutter design," says Michano. "We made it everything we could possibly want." A

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