studioHuB architects is proud to be leading the design of Snokomish Elementary School, a new 655-student K–7 school currently under construction in the South Newton neighbourhood of Surrey and slated for completion in late 2025.

The project began with a Project Definition Report, a rigorous feasibility study that demonstrated the community’s urgent need for a new elementary school. Building on that foundation, the design process was guided by three clear principles: Equity, Resiliency, and the First Peoples’ Principles of Learning. These values informed every design move and were shaped through ongoing engagement with key stakeholders—including senior Surrey Schools leadership and a co-chair of the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee.

The result is a school that meaningfully connects students to land, learning, and community. It features extensive indoor-outdoor integration, including multiple outdoor classrooms, a welcoming central courtyard, and exterior design elements inspired by a woven blanket gifted by Paula James of the Katzie First Nation. This blanket’s colours and patterns informed the palette and rhythm of the cladding and masonry, embedding local Indigenous culture into the school’s identity in a respectful and lasting way.

A central feature of the school is its Neighbourhood Learning Centre, which provides all-day childcare and before/after-school programs, supporting both student development and broader community needs. Learning environments throughout the school support collaborative, individual, and social learning styles, with flexible spaces that encourage both connection and quiet reflection.

From a sustainability standpoint, Snokomish Elementary sets a new benchmark. The school will operate with all-electric mechanical systems, achieving an 89% reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions compared to a LEED Gold reference building. This dramatic reduction was achieved through extensive energy modeling, strategic system choices, and only a 3% increase in construction costs—demonstrating that meaningful climate action is both achievable and fiscally responsible in public-sector buildings.

Snokomish Elementary isn’t just a school—it’s a resilient, inclusive, and community-rooted learning environment designed to serve the next generation of learners and leaders