École Allain St-Cyr

Williams Engineering (WE) has built upon a long-standing relationship with École Allain St-Cyr that began in 1998 to provide engineering design and consultation services. During the initial phase of the project, we provided structural and electrical engineering design and construction services for the new French language school in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

École Allain St-Cyr provided a significant opportunity for our engineers to be as creative as possible, which resulted in a modern, innovative, and cost-effective design that met the needs of the client and the community. Our engineers delivered the latest technology in electrical systems, while the structural design makes for an interesting, attractive, and functional facility.

Phase II began in 2005 when WE provided consulting services to prepare a funding proposal for an addition to the school, which was necessary due to increased development in the north. By preparing a description of the existing mechanical, electrical, and structural systems as well as a preliminary budget, we helped secure funding for the school, ensuring the ongoing usability and practicality of a signature building in the arctic.

The most recent phase included electrical and structural engineering services for an expansion of the school to allow an increase in enrollment. This third phase was divided into two parts: foundation and structural system construction; and architectural, electrical, and mechanical components to complete the building. The addition consists of a classroom, science classroom, library, and mechanical room. The addition was designed to support further expansion due to the growing population of the northern community.

The school has been featured in the book 1000x: Architecture of the Americas, published by Verlagshaus Braun of Berlin, which profiled 1,000 unique buildings in North, Central, and South America and referred to École Allain St-Cyr as “one of Canada’s most innovative schools.”