Westpark Middle School

The Westpark Middle School preojct represented a new level of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability within Red Deer’s education system. Designed to accommodate 500 students, the 5,117-square-meter facility extended beyond traditional classrooms, serving as a shared space for Red Deer Minor Baseball and Red Deer College. Despite the challenge of maintaining full operation of the existing school during construction, Shunda successfully delivered a modern learning environment that fosters both education and community engagement.

Notably, the Westpark Student Design Committee played an active role in shaping key features, including a mechanical room viewing area and a science-integrated water feature, ensuring the new school reflected student-driven ideas.

Sustainability was a central focus, leading to the installation of a solar PV system that exceeded expectations by supplying 50% of the school’s energy needs. Additionally, Westpark became Alberta’s first educational facility to feature a solar chimney, enhancing passive temperature regulation. Shunda’s commitment to cost efficiency was evident through two post-tender value engineering sessions, identifying over 40 cost-saving measures and delivering $1.13 million in savings without compromising quality. Achieving LEED Gold Certification, the project set a benchmark for environmentally responsible school construction and demonstrated the power of collaboration in creating a lasting, community-driven educational space.