A former quarry site in east Toronto presented an unusual constraint: railway setbacks and existing easements reduced a three-acre property to just 0.97 acres of buildable land. We worked with Conseil scolaire Viamonde to develop a three-storey design that fits 380 K–6 students and 73 child care spaces within a minimal footprint.

A double-height Atrium draws natural light deep into the building while connecting the front and back of the school, managing pedestrian and vehicular access. Generous windows throughout maintain views to the surrounding neighbourhood. A bold yellow accent marks the school’s entrance, signalling its presence to families navigating a neighbourhood still taking shape. A front pedestrian plaza creates gathering space for families and the community.

Maximizing a Constrained Site
Designing on a constrained urban site required rethinking typical site planning and functionality. The three-storey school minimized building footprint to maximize available site area for play and circulation. The driveway and bus lay-by doubles as a hard-surface play area during school hours, while the gymnasium roof provides additional outdoor learning and recreation space.