Bringing faith, family, and 21st century design

St. John Paul II Catholic School

Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools’s pedagogy is to create spaces that help grades become families—to better build relationships and transition students. So, it was essential that their new 7–12 high school, with a capacity of 1,000 students, would meet this philosophy.

The design of the school minimizes the old-style, dual-loaded corridors with classrooms on either side. Instead, learning spaces are clustered together in groups—or families—that expand with movable glass walls, helping students to excel in supportive, collaborative spaces. The school houses a music classroom with three acoustically-isolated practice rooms and a drama room that opens onto a flex area to allow for small performances.

A large commercial kitchen serves as a learning space and supports catering during special events. Career and technology studies (CTS) spaces are abundant, including woodworking, welding, cosmetology, early childhood/daycare, and life skills. Traditional spaces such as libraries, computer areas, and science labs are brought out of isolation and positioned as large public gathering areas.

The hallmark of the St. John Paul II Catholic School is the three-story commercial theater which includes a green room, two dressing rooms, a ticket booth, lighting booth, and audio booth. With an iconic design focusing on faith, function, and family, the new St. John Paul II Catholic School delivers a modern learning experience for Grade Prairie students.