Design Elements for Nine New Joint-Use Schools Determined

Released on March 14, 2014

Education Minister Don Morgan joined students, teachers, parents, school division administrators and community members in Saskatoon today to reveal design elements for the nine new joint-use schools.

“The ideas and insights from students, parents and teachers will ensure that the schools are comfortable and creative spaces for students to achieve success,” Morgan said.  “I thank the participants for designing elements that put the student first while respecting the uniqueness of each school division and the communities where the schools will be built.”  

The design elements are a starting point for the new joint-use schools that the Government of Saskatchewan is building in Saskatoon, Regina, Warman and Martensville.  Group2 Architecture Interior Design conducted the five-day workshop and will consult with the school divisions in the coming weeks to determine two school designs - one larger and one smaller to suit enrollment numbers in the various communities.  School divisions can then refine the design further to meet local needs.

The Ministry of Education engaged students, teachers, parents, school division administrators and community members through a 3P, or production preparation process.  The goal was to ensure design elements that put the student first and meet the need of the community. 

“It's the future of education - collaboration that brings us together in one purpose and goal,” Regina Public School Division Grade 1 and 2 teacher Danielle Maley said.  “It’s also education at its finest.  Students, teachers, principals, superintendents and the ministry working together to design so much more than a building; we’re designing an educational world we have never seen before.”

“This is new, it's fun, it's innovative, and it's changing the future of learning,” Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division Grade 8 student Luke Yakubowski said.  “We’re young and creative and we know what we need to achieve success in school, so it’s great we got to take part.”

The workshop was held in a warehouse that allowed participants to create small-scale models of design elements as well as build full-scale mock-ups of a classroom that facilitates collaboration so that the participants could see how it will look and feel.

The design phase will be completed by June, and the next phase will focus on the procurement process.  The schools are scheduled to be completed by September 2017.

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For more information, contact:

Kelly Johnston
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1069
Email: kelly.johnston@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-533-7506