Industrial education facility reflecting the distinct characteristics of an innovative learning space

College of the North Atlantic - Heavy Equipment Centre of Excellence

Our client’s vision: a bright, energy efficient, and modern educational facility. Spanning 40,000 square feet over two floors, the college features classrooms, carpentry shop, high-bay maintenance and heavy equipment workshops, collaboration spaces, and a student lounge. Between noisy shop spaces to quiet classrooms, our designers worked to deliver a facility where these different areas have virtually no noise impact on each other.

Our design was delivered using a local, all-Stantec team, and incorporates energy efficiency, LEED® standards, and sustainable materials. Strategic use of windows provides access to natural light and a connection to the training yard outside. Celebrating the distinct characteristics of an innovative industrial learning space, we used glass walls as ‘shop windows’ into the workshop and labs, giving opportunities for observational learning.

Recognizing that ‘in-between’ spaces are as important as classrooms, individual alcoves with flexible seating offer space for collaborative learning. Select building components were left exposed turning the building itself into a learning tool. Now complete, the College helps prepare students for today’s competitive job market.