Number TEN has completed the design for a brand new, 100,000 sq. ft. early years to Grade 12 school in Pikangikum First Nation, Ontario. Construction of the design-build school project, led by contractor Penn-Co Construction, is progressing rapidly and the new facility is on-track to open in time for the 2017 school year.
The new school will be a focal point for the community, serving as its education centre, community gathering space, and hub for a wide range of educational activities. It will be the largest building in the community, designed to be a safe and secure place that reflects and celebrates Pikangikum First Nation’s traditional values, cultures and traditions, while incorporating the latest in modern technology and school design.
The design theme centers around a visual representation of the journey of learning students will take as they progress from childhood to adolescence into adulthood. This journey is expressed throughout the school using thoughtful symbolism, colour, and a well-designed layout that serves to break up the space into distinct learning zones grouped by age level.
Interior mural, graphics and sign designed by Victoria McCrea
“This project is special on many levels,” explains Stacy Dyck, a design architect with Number TEN. “Having grown up in a remote northern community myself, attending a school that struggled with the difficulties of isolation such as maintaining teaching staff, it warms my heart to think of how much this new school will benefit the community.”
Since the project broke ground, the First Nation has seen a spike in school registration. Currently, students are learning out of temporary portable classrooms, a direct result of a fire that destroyed the original school in 2007. School attendance in these temporary facilities is low, and attracting and retaining teachers is difficult.
The new facility is generating huge excitement in the community. “Number TEN and Penn-Co set up a Pikangikum School Facebook page to interact with community members and share information about the construction progress,” says Tim Phelan, Number TEN’s business development manager. “It’s amazing to be part of the conversation and hear people’s reactions.” Phelan added that Facebook is the preferred communication tool used in Pikangikum. “There is an undeniable excitement for the new school, and that is great to see.”
A critical challenge for the project is the complexity of designing and building on a rigid schedule and budget in a remote part of Canada. “The timeline and budget for this project is very challenging,” says Barrie Ottenbreit, a partner at Number TEN. “The design-build team has put tremendous effort into the design, working long hours and going the extra mile to research and understand Pikangikum’s distinct and proud culture. We want the school to reflect their culture and traditions, and for residents to truly feel part of the design process. We want them to proud of the final result.”
Complicating the delivery schedule and budget are the complex logistics of building a project in a remote part of Northern Ontario that is not accessible by road. Materials need to be shipped in a carefully planned sequence using ice roads in winter, and barges in summer. The construction team lives in a camp near the site, and is supported with the use of local labour, who were recruited and trained by Penn-Co Construction.
“Penn-Co takes pride in its ability to deliver complex projects and provide local people with the necessary training to be a meaningful part of the construction team" says Dan Reimer, President of Penn-Co Construction. “Not only does the community benefit with a quality modern school, they also gain skills and knowledge which in turn strengthens the community further.”
In addition to Pikangikum First Nation School, Number TEN is currently working on two other Northern Ontario design-build school projects in Fort Severn and Poplar Hill First Nations with NDL Construction.
Pikangikum School exterior wall pattern