Emily Follensbee School – Calgary

“I particularly remember visiting Emily Follensbee School, an elementary school for children with complex disabilities.  What is striking is how unprepossessing it appears as one approaches it: hidden behind an electrical substation and almost invisible from the road.  The building itself leans more towards the utilitarian, but as such it fulfills its function perfectly, from the cliffside vista behind the school, the large spacious atrium that can accommodate the entire student body – many of whom are in wheelchairs or other large mobility devices – for special performances and enrichment activities, to the heated indoor pool and adaptive outdoor play area.  Another well-considered feature, a large canopy shields passengers from rain, snow and sun as they arrive and leave by school bus.

This building to me embodies the idea that thoughtfulness and practicality in design sometimes outweighs grand concepts; more importantly, it highlights how inhabitation and usage can transform a utilitarian space into a warm and welcoming place for users.”(Booklet Positive Lived Experiences of Quality in the Built Environment 2024, p.40).

Image caption with copyright owner. Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JGmK3SdectYzqfhS6