The new Divine Mercy School is Edmonton Catholic Schools’ addition to the southeast of the city, providing space for 650 students. The exterior design is simple yet engaging, complementing the surrounding developing neighborhood, with vibrant colored metal panels that give the school a cheerful and welcoming character. Rooted in the principles of play and exploration, the interior design focuses on creating a scale and environment suitable for young learners. Warm, inviting materials were selected to foster comfortable learning spaces, including an outdoor rooftop classroom.

The primary intent of this project was to create a functional 21st-century school within the constraints of a typical footprint, ensuring openness and flexibility for modern learning while staying within budget. The project utilized a Construction Management (CM) approach, combined with a commitment to faith-based, 21st-century learning and design principles.

As a K-6 school, a key Condition of Satisfaction was to create “wow” zones and faith-based areas that would enhance the experience for students, teachers, and the community. In collaboration with CM partners, innovative solutions were developed, such as creating WOW spaces under the school’s common stair, a second-floor outdoor patio classroom, and other engaging areas. These spaces were designed to stimulate both the school community and visitors, offering diverse learning opportunities both inside and outside the school building.