LeMarchant-St. Thomas Elementary

Halifax, NS

This three-storey, 5 125-square-meter P-6 school was constructed to LEED standards and has achieved LEED Silver certification.

The school features a collaborative learning space (Da Vinci Studio) that combines multi-purpose use, visual arts, the cafeteria and the library. Combining these spaces creates a flexible, collaborative learning environment to accommodate several classes participating in a range of activities at the same time. The spaces blend together to foster integrated learning or allow for larger groups to make use of the entire space. The three-storey academic wing provides collaborative zones outside the more traditional learning spaces to create opportunities for project-based learning and break out space.

The exterior aesthetic of the building is playful and picks up on the whimsy of children’s play. The introduction of a rainbow of colour creates movement as you move along the building and view it from various angles.