Maple Grove Elementary School

Copyright: Ema Peter Photography

How do you create a school environment that encourages a range of learning styles? The new two-storey Maple Grove Elementary School in Vancouver, British Columbia includes six learning pods, each with three or four classrooms that surround a learning commons. Pod configurations nurture formal and informal communities, while optimizing sight lines for supervision and introducing flexibility in the teaching environment. The pods are further grouped around three secure courtyards that create outdoor learning commons, similar in concept to the “Open Air Schools” developed in response to the early 20th Century pandemic. Great care was taken during the planning stages to create a safe, healthy site that is highly accessible and intuitive with strategies to mitigate traffic congestions and increase the quality of outdoor spaces. Site constraints and access to outdoor space drove the initial development of the building massing. The massing was further broken down by a central spine that cuts through the building, bringing in natural light and connecting the two floors. The gymnasium and multi-purpose room frame the main entrance to accommodate after-hours facilities rentals. Outdoor education and recreation programs benefit from improved indoor-outdoor access, as well as new spaces for sports, play and seasonal gardening. The new Maple Grove Elementary School successfully creates a dynamic learning environment that responds to changing pedagogy and classroom styles. Thoughtful planning with attention to student and teacher needs is demonstrated through the building’s interiors, while the exterior form and materiality create a visually striking building for the greater community.