Dignitaries cut the ribbon during the official Grand Opening of Westpark Middle School in Red Deer on Friday.

By Sheldon Spackman

Grand Opening

Westpark Middle School celebrates official Grand Opening

Oct 4, 2019 | 4:39 PM

Local dignitaries gathered at Westpark Middle School on Friday to celebrate the official grand opening of the new $18 million facility.

Currently home to 525 students, Westpark Middle School opened in September – two years after shovels first hit the ground on the one-of-a-kind building.

Designed by Berry Architecture with the input of students, the two-story building was designed and built to a minimum LEED Gold standard (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – a standard used as a green rating system for buildings).

The open concept design also includes outdoor classroom space, an office for Red Deer Minor Baseball to open Nov. 15, and other unique features such as a solar chimney said to be the first of its kind in Red Deer, and first school in Alberta to have one.

The rooftop mezzanine will be used as a teaching/observation area where students from the Red Deer College School of Education will have a regular presence in the building.

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Official Grand Opening celebrations took place at Westpark Middle School in Red Deer on Friday.

“The building itself is a teaching tool,” explains Principal Dean Pasiuk. “All the way from the shape and multiplication tables that the windows are shaped in for groupings, to the interactive displays that we have for our power systems, electrical, water, gas, anything like that, Low-flow, the teaching of the water wall, the physics of water on the water wall, the solar chimney, solar panels.”

Pasiuk says he’s most proud of the significant interaction they had with students in the design of the building.

“Having their ideas actually not only come out to be listened to, but actually be integrated right into the school,” he exclaims. “This school is going to mean the continuation of 50 years that it’s already been here. Although we’re brand new, its connection really is the community of West Park.”

Nicole Buchanan, Board Chair for Red Deer Public Schools and former Westpark Middle School student, says she’s very proud of the new facility.

“This is extremely exciting to be part of this historic moment,” exclaims Buchanan. “I came in as a trustee half-way through this project, so I’m honoured and excited to see what transpired. I think the learning opportunities in this school are really paving the way for Red Deer Public and other schools within our province.”

Education Minister Adrianna LaGrange says she’s proud of the innovation that went into the school’s design and the engagement of students in their learning.

“At the end of the day, we can build wonderful schools, but if we don’t have the students engaged in their learning, that they really feel that they’re part of what’s happening, then they’re just beautiful spaces,” says LaGrange. “But we have beautiful learning spaces that the students feel they have a part in, that they are engaged and that they have ownership of it and I think that’s the most important thing for me.”