Purcell Collegiate will be an international boarding school for Grades 7-12, located in the picturesque Marysville region of Kimberley, BC. Offering specialized opportunities in STEM courses, including robotics and AI, as well as enhanced languages, fine arts, and NCAA athletics, the new school will be comprised of both international and Canadian students. As this is a boarding school, our design brief encompasses the school itself, with all junior and senior high amenities, including gym and specialized labs, as well as student residences, cafeteria/dining, and outdoor sports fields.

The school will be located on a small portion of the Kimberley Golf Course, and the site has some significant elevation changes. We worked carefully with the site, ensuring a smooth building transition through the changes in elevation. The architectural language takes advantage of these gradations, as well as the stunning beauty of the location. The design also incorporates the colours of the natural setting and uses materials that reference the surrounding Purcell Mountains from which the school derives its name.

Sustainability is an important goal for the project which is targeting a LEED Gold designation, as well as BC Energy Step Code, Level 4. Sustainable design and practices will become an important part of the school’s curriculum, and the building will act as a hands-on example of how these can be achieved in architecture and construction. The project is also targeting the highest level of barrier-free accessibility–Rick Hansen Foundation Gold certification.