Fort Richmond Collegiate Addition and Renovations

location 
99 Killarney Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 

client 
Public Schools Finance
Board and Pembina Trails
School Division

consultants 
S / Wolfrom Engineering Ltd.
M / KGS Group.
E / KGS Group.
C / WSP

contractor 
Gardon Construction

area 
2,735 sf (addition)
5,080 sf (renovation)

cost 
$1.8 Million

status
Completed Spring 2020

photography
Lindsay Reid

In 2018, Prairie Architects Inc. was hired to lead an integrated and collaborative team through the design and construction of a new addition and renovation at Fort Richmond Collegiate in the Pembina Trails School Division. A 2,735 square foot addition provides a new accessible and self-contained band room facility to accommodate the school’s premier band program, which was formerly located in sub-optimal space.  The new band room facility is purpose-built and includes two acoustically separated practice rooms for students; an office; ample storage for instruments, sheet music and related band supplies; and a large open area suitable for the school’s concert band (up to 200 students), small group ensembles (5-10 students) and jazz band (25-30 students) to co-exist. The space is designed to be flexible and accessible with clear sightlines for all students and easily reconfigurable spaces without the use of steps or tiers.

The subsequent renovation of the former band room space allows for the creation of a 2,850 square-foot Life Skills Suite, which includes: dedicated teaching and student space, offices for teachers and clinicians, a kitchenette for life skills education, a grooming room and new accessible toilet rooms, an integrated physiotherapy space, a meeting space, and a quiet/sensory room for students. The design focuses on creating an inclusive environment where all students at the school feel welcome.