
Aspen Park Elementary School Expansion
As part of the Ministry’s prefab design initiative, School District 71 engaged studioHuB architects to design a thoughtful and detached addition to Aspen Park Elementary School. The project responds to growing enrolment demands and evolving pedagogical needs with a two-storey mass timber structure that prioritizes both educational excellence and environmental responsibility.
The new build, constructed from exposed dowel-laminated timber (DLT) floor and roof panels, houses 11 modern classrooms, inclusive education spaces, "buddy break" areas for neurodiverse learners, and a mix of indoor and outdoor project zones that foster collaborative and communal learning experiences. These flexible environments are grounded in 21st Century Learning principles, encouraging adaptability, interaction, and student agency.
A key focus was blending the addition with the existing tilt-up concrete structure, while introducing bold, contemporary elements. A palette of cementitious cladding panels, paired with metal accents, brings both cohesion and identity to the campus. The terracotta hue was carefully chosen in dialogue with the local Indigenous community, offering a respectful and regionally grounded design reference.
The site posed significant challenges, including a constrained building footprint, hardpan soils, and stormwater concerns due to the school’s location at the base of a hill in a high-rainfall area. Our design integrates advanced drainage strategies and careful site coordination to manage runoff, trenching, and service routes.
Interior spaces feature exposed DLT panels throughout common areas, bringing warmth, acoustic comfort, and a sense of calm that supports student well-being and focus. Additional features include gender-neutral washrooms, special education programming zones, and a sit/stand teaching stair with writable surfaces—creating dynamic, inclusive, and flexible environments for both students and educators.
This addition is more than just extra classrooms—it’s a forward-looking investment in the health, engagement, and success of the Aspen Park school community.