As announced at the end of August, the winning and finalist proposals for the Lab-École architecture competition have been unveiled. We are pleased to share our proposal, developed in consortium with Alexandre Landry Architecte, for a new elementary school in Shefford, which was a finalist in this competition.

École primaire de la Clairière

The architecture of École primaire de la Clairière combines with the educational vocation of nature, while embedding the project in the fabric of the surrounding community and the forested setting.

The project is primarily built in an existing clearing in the forest, which is at the heart of the site. From this core, a permeable architecture unfolds toward the tranquility of the forest. A covered walkway, a footbridge, and pavilions encircle the welcoming courtyard (clearing), where activity, movement, sharing, and light converge.

"Overall, the jury is delighted with the sensitivity of the architectural approach and concept. The jury appreciates the layout, orientation, and openness toward the courtyard of the various pavilions, which reinforces the concept of a clearing. The jury is also optimistic about the variations among the pavilions, which help break down the scale of the school into a more human one. In addition, the covered walkway creates a beautiful transition between the exterior and interior spaces, as well as a beautiful interplay of scales. Inside, the variation in spaces generates a variety of learning environments. The jury also appreciates the upstairs corridor, which offers elevated, open views of the landscape. Finally, the jury noted the versatility of the community pavilion, which offers a variety of collaborative spaces adjacent to the bleachers, thus becoming a gathering place.

In addition, the jury emphasizes its positive assessment of the presence of the bike path and walking trail—which offer a pleasant route to school and encourage active transportation—the use of wood in the structure and finishes; the presence of a community seating area and other small seating areas in the collaborative spaces; the dining room with its mountain view; the clear entrance from the street; the junction with the community pavilion, which facilitates the separation of common spaces; and finally, the direct access to the pavilions and the management of the locker rooms, which are located in a convenient sequence for most of the pavilions."

Overall, the school promotes learning through play, discovery, and the outdoors by embracing the site’s natural features. The overall design respects the diversity of ecosystems and protects natural heritage by minimizing human impact and offering experiences tailored to each location.

Thank you to our collaborators Guillaume Leroux (Leroux+Cyr), Laurent Laframboise (Dupras Ledoux), Kim Marineau (Biodiversité conseil), Antoine Crépeau (WAA+), and Daniel Houle (Marchand Houle et associés).

We would also like to commend the Lab-École initiative, and the high quality of the projects submitted.