studioHuB architects has recently completed the South Newton Elementary School Project Definition Report (PDR), which explores building a new 3-storey, 27 classroom elementary school, with an integrated daycare. This PDR included extensive site analysis, servicing analysis, geotechnical, environmental and wetland investigations as well as proposed mechanical, electrical and structural systems. The project scope includes multiple consultations with civil engineers and City of Surrey Engineering and Planning staff regarding upgrades to the public road as well as innovative ways to alleviate traffic congestion during the busy drop off and pick up times.

Three guiding principles were determined early in the preliminary design stage with the stakeholders to establish the rationale for the design: Equity, Resiliency, and First Peoples’ Principles. The Co-Chair of the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee was an invited member of the Steering Committee to help guide the consultant team on decisions made throughout the design process. studioHuB facilitated stakeholder engagement sessions with a focus on First Peoples’ Principles and explored methods to implement the guiding principles into the design. The Co-Chair of the Indigenous Leadership Committee introduced the team to the Indigenous Pedagogy Framework as part of the principles.

Key Considerations: Circles are important to the Coast Salish. Circles are used in Salish art, spindles, weaving, and in form of governance. Traditionally, information is communicated through experiences, and one should creating flexible and malleable spaces; hence, the use of outdoors as an extended “classroom” and incorporate nature into the childcare environment. To create a relaxing environment to ready people to receive information. In response to generational trauma, our aspiration is to design the building to feel less institutionalized in form and character.

The school proposes an innovative mix of energy efficiency and carbon reduction strategies: it will be approximately 30% more efficient than a LEED gold building, and reduce its GHG emissions by 90% over a similar baseline building, by being an all-electric facility.