The Elbow Park School is a landmark building located in the heart of the Elbow Park neighborhood in Calgary. Originally built in 1926, the charming two-storey building served as the neighborhood’s public school until it was structurally damaged by a flood in 2013. A combination of Provincial modernization and renewal, and insurance funding was assembled to support rebuilding the school. The consultant team recommended preserving portions of the original 1926 façade, and building a new school within the historic walls, all on new foundations.

The new building preserves the historic north wall, cupola, and library hammer truss structure. The new contemporary school was constructed based on programmatic requirements set by Alberta Infrastructure. In order to protect the school from future floods, the new main floor was raised above the 1:500 year flood plain elevation. Extensive hazardous materials were removed prior to selective demolition. The historic facade was then shored up, and re-supported on a pile system below the level of the underground river. Substantial engineering coordination and value analysis was required to maximize the program and historic preservation features within the allocated budget. Extensive Community and City engagement was completed to ensure full support for the new building. The building was completed on time and on budget.