ASET Fall 2017 - 18

PLEASE WELCOME FROM

SAIT

River Valley School
PROJECT TEAM

PROJECT SUMMARY

David Erickson. I am a 21-year-old Calgarian, born and
raised. During my first semester of Grade 12, I started working for a light-gauge steel-framing and -finishing company.
Upon graduation, I took a year off to continue working as
a steel framer while I decided what post-secondary route I
wanted to pursue. I was working on a hotel project in downtown Calgary where I met an architect from a local firm.
She showed me around the office and introduced me to
some of her colleagues in different departments (contract
administration, interior design, etc.). During the tour, someone suggested I consider SAIT's Architectural Technologies Program at SAIT. I explored the option and am glad I
did, as my time here represents two of the most successful
years of my life.

River Valley School (RVS) was an individual project I completed during my 4th semester in the Architectural Technologies Program at SAIT.
RVS is a non-profit Montessori/Progressive/Aerosmith
stream school located in the Calgary community of Bowness. It currently owns two campuses: River Valley School
(grades 1-6) and the Early Learning Campus (ELC), which
focuses on pre-school and kindergarten.
River Valley School is located in an old Royal Canadian
Legion building off Bowwood Dr NW, immediately after
one crosses the Bow River. The ELC building is two blocks
North of RVS on a 9.5-acre field between 31st Ave NW and
33rd Ave NW.
My project objective was to design a new structure to
house the students and staff of River Valley School. This
new structure is to be located on the site housing the ELC
building.
To gain an appreciation of what makes River Valley
School such a terrific learning environment, I met with the
institution's headmaster, as well as with an architect who
represented RVS. I toured the existing campus to get a
first-hand feel of what it was like to be a part of the student
body and faculty. From there I was given a list of criteria
desired of the new design. These included, without being
limited to:
* Leaving four acres of green space;
* Designing to achieve good traffic
flow (40 parking stalls);
* A total surface area of approximately 40,000 ft²;
* A maximum of two storeys with an elevator;
* Each floor was to include:
» One set of male washrooms
» One set of female washroom
» One unisex washroom
» Two adult washrooms;
* 16 classrooms with plenty of natural lighting;
* Separate spaces dedicated to art, drama,
music, a library, French-language instruction,
and a gymnasium; and,
* Administrative offices.

18 | FALL 2017 | TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASET Fall 2017