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“Creating a modern learning environment to improve learning outcomes and foster collaboration.”

Edmonton Public Schools will be opening two brand new schools in the coming years and Arrow Engineering has had the pleasure of working on both. One of these new schools is Soraya Hafez School, which is for K-6 students and will open in September 2020. This school is named after Soraya Hafez, who is an advocate for Arabic culture and language, and she is also an Edmonton-based teacher. Hafez has been recognized and awarded for her efforts in promoting the Arabic language and its culture. She has served as the President of Edmonton’s Canadian Council of Muslim Women, and was a long-standing member of the Arab Jewish Women’s Peace Coalition as well.

At 58,900 square feet, Soraya Hafez School was designed to accommodate up to 650 K-6 students. These students will be welcomed by a state-of-the-art learning environment which will promote collaboration among students and focus on the well-being of all who walk through the doors. The school’s design focuses on giving students a variety of bright learning spaces that feature natural light. Students will also have easy access to gathering spaces, outdoor playgrounds, and fully furnished learning spaces.

Arrow Engineering is passionate about school and education projects, especially those which cover underserved areas like the Soraya Hafez School does. We realize the importance of giving future generations a comfortable and energizing place to thrive. This particular project was completed using the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method, which allowed every party involved in the project to meet as a group on a daily basis, working together from day one in order to complete the project in the most collaborative and efficient way possible.

Using the IPD method allowed the team to establish and better understand the core values and project goals from the beginning of the project. To complete the project in a timely manner and achieve project goals, the IPD team ensured that the most efficient team member performed required tasks, even when it varied from their traditional roles. Being flexible and adaptable is so important at Arrow Engineering. The project was designed using Building Information Modelling (BIM), with the team focusing on cost optimization to make certain that project goals were being met and stayed budget. Our team worked closely with the mechanical contractor and other stakeholders to design high quality mechanical systems for the school. In addition, our energy modelling team worked with the entire IPD team to perform modelling that met energy code compliance and LEED certification, and further optimized costs early in the project lifespan.