Designing With Purpose: A New Standard for Educational Spaces

Our team is proud to be at the forefront of sustainable and inclusive design with the creation of the Built Green Program for Schools, a modification of the established Built Green certification, which traditionally applies to high-density residential developments. 

We initiated this program while working on a truly exceptional project, the 60,000-square-foot Bearspaw School in Rocky View County, Alberta, part of Renfrew Educational Services, which focuses on students with special needs. 

As the pilot school, Bearspaw wanted to take a new approach to school design, one that integrates high-performance building standards with deep sensitivity to the needs of its students. 

Adapting Built Green for Schools 

Led by our Sustainability Team, we recognized that the existing sustainability framework for Built Green wasn’t tailored to educational environments, particularly not for schools that support students with complex needs. Together with the design team, we evolved the Built Green Checklist to reflect the unique priorities of these schools. 

Some of the new features introduced include: 

• Occupant Comfort: A new category that emphasizes well-being, including biophilic design, universal accessibility, and sensory-responsive spaces.  

  
  

• Universal Access: Every door in the school is wheelchair accessible. Hallways and gathering areas were designed with extra space to accommodate mobility devices and create a welcoming flow. 

• Therapeutic Design Elements: Biophilia features were added to the checklist and a future hydrotherapy room was included in the project. In addition, Bearspaw includes a greenhouse, reflecting how design can actively support learning and healing.  

  
  

• Independent Living Skills: The second floor includes a studio apartment, helping senior students practice everyday skills, such as cooking, doing laundry, and making their beds.  

  
  

Although not a part of the Built Green Checklist, the Bearspaw School also includes quiet spaces, offering students a place to self-regulate, recharge, and feel secure when overwhelmed. 

A Team Effort in Innovation 

This project is a true collaboration across Entuitive’s disciplines, with our team providing Sustainability Consulting, Energy Modelling, Structural Engineering, and Building Envelope Consulting. We’re also thrilled to be part of the wider design team, including Kasian Architecture, Remedy as the Mechanical Engineers, SMP as the Electrical Engineers, M3 representing the client, and EllisDon managing the project’s construction. 

Why It Matters 

The Renfrew Educational Services Bearspaw School isn’t just an alternative learning environment, it’s a model for what schools can be. Every design decision is rooted in care: for students, for staff, and for the planet. With support from the Calgary Flames Foundation and the vision of a dedicated team, this school marks a milestone in sustainable, inclusive design in Alberta. 

We’re excited to continue this program and to see it inspire more schools in the future. 

Reach out to Leanne Conrad if your organization is considering a school project and would like to follow this new certification path.