Milton's growing community needed a secondary school that would celebrate all types of learning. At St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Secondary School, we created spaces where students transition naturally between calculus and welding through the same light-filled three-storey atrium, giving academic and vocational programs equal visibility for the school’s 1,569 students.

The atrium functions as the school's main street. Students circulate between classes while clerestory glazing illuminates the space. For large school gatherings, this central circulation spine transforms into a mass assembly hall. The Chapel at its north end can open to the atrium, creating a continuous hall spanning the school's full length.

We organized the building into two zones connected by this central Commons. A four-storey academic wing efficiently stacks classrooms to one side, while on the other side, a two-storey complex houses the Gymnasium, Theatre, and Cafeteria. We strategically positioned tech workshops to be accessed from the Commons rather than hidden away. Windows offer glimpses of vocational programs in action, making their hands-on learning visible and engaging for all students.