Nouvelle école des Petits-Explorateurs

Distinctions

Discipline : Architecture

Categories : Institutional, Civic & Education Building / School & Preschool Education Building : Gold certification

Petits-Explorateurs Primary School is an alternative school designed around exploration and self-directed learning. With 22 classrooms, a daycare service, a double gymnasium, a culinary workshop, a library, and collaborative spaces, the project is grounded in a clear spatial organization supports evolving uses over time.

Inspired by the idea of a village, the school brings together learning and collaboration spaces around an inner courtyard and a generous atrium, conceived as the public square. Exploratory pathways radiate from this central space, guiding students intuitively through the building.

The atrium serves as both a landmark and a gathering place, revealing the school’s organization at a glance. Wood bleachers bring a biophilic quality to the space, supporting learning activities and collective moments throughout the day. The atrium draws abundant natural light into the heart of the compact building and opens up multiple views to the outdoors.

The architecture is shaped by passive environmental strategies. The compact massing, building orientation, canopies, and sunshades reduce energy needs and improve occupant comfort, complementing the geothermal system. Drawing on local expertise, the material palette contributes to the building’s durability and to the quality of its indoor environment.

Designed to evolve alongside changing educational practices, the school includes spaces that can be adapted over time. Acting as a tool for the community, Petits-Explorateurs Elementary School supports students’ growth and offers a sustainable, thoughtful learning environment, deeply connected to its surroundings.

The project in images