New CBE School Designs Recognized with Association for Learning Environments 2017 Awards

Jan. 23, 2018


Staff from the Design and Property Development team and Chair Hurdman accept the two awards from A4LE, with the prime consultant from Marshall Tittemore Architects


The Board of Trustees were presented with two awards from the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). At their 2017 spring conference, the Calgary Board of Education was recognized for outstanding facility planning and design awards for Elbow Park School and Christine Meikle School.

“We are proud of all of our new schools that have opened in the past two years. We are particularly honoured to be recognized for the hard work and creativity from our CBE staff and prime consultant partners that went into the design and development of these two unique schools,” said Dany Breton, superintendent, facilities and environmental services.

Elbow Park School won the 2017 Pinnacle Award

The Pinnacle Award Program recognizes outstanding education facilities in the Pacific Northwest Region (Canada and USA). These international awards recognize learning environments that positively impact teaching and learning and are a result of a sound planning process that grows out of the needs and expectations of the community.

The new Elbow Park School replaced the original building built in 1926 that was damaged during the 2013 flood. The creative design and engineering solutions developed ensured that the school was able to retain the original north façade, historical learning commons roof trusses and maintain the spirit of the original school design while addressing the future with innovative flexible learning spaces. Elbow Park School was selected from all the entries as the school project that best represented exemplary practice in planning, designing and constructing contemporary learning environments.

The school was designed by Gibbs Gage Architects.

Christine Meikle School was the 2017 Alberta Chapter Award winner

The A4LE Alberta Chapter Award Program recognizes outstanding education facilities in Alberta.

Christine Meikle School was selected from all the Alberta school entries as the project that best represented quality learning environments that positively impact teaching and learning. It was designed specifically for secondary school-age students with cognitive, medical, emotional, sensory and behavioural challenges. The school has classrooms with special lifts to easily maneuver the students, a saltwater therapeutic pool with an access ramp and grab bars, multi-sensory rooms and a wheelchair accessible outdoor play area to name just a few unique features.
The school was designed by Marshall Tittemore Architects.

A4LE is a professional non-profit association whose sole mission is improving the places where children learn. A4LE believes that facilities impact the learning, development and behavior of the users; the planning process is essential for quality facilities; sharing and networking improves the planning process; and that there is an international standard by which to measure designs.