Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 19/99) - Wayne Guy thinks of architecture as an art and art is what he's created with his design of the new Ecole Allain St. Cyr school.

Complete with slim alley ways, impromptu meeting squares, an outdoor terrace and a moat-style entrance bridge that leads into a grand three-storey administration area, the French immersion school will certainly be conducive to learning.

"The building is a vessel, it should set an image of inspiration," says Guy, of the Yellowknife firm Guy Architects.

Awarded the design contract for the school in November of '97, Guy says the boldness of the building comes from the boldness of the community.

"They wanted something special and unique, they weren't a very conservative client," he said.

And Ecole Allain is unique in that it is more than just a school. Not only did Guy have to design a school that would fit the needs of students from kindergarten through to grade 12, he also had to encompass a day care and a community hall within it.

The hall is circular, with raked seating for 250, and can serve as three multi-purpose classrooms during the day. The second-floor terrace, also rounded, can be used for community gatherings in the evenings or an outdoor classroom in the day.

Guy has also utilized the school's natural surroundings, designing the classrooms and terrace so that they face into the spruce and tamarack trees and are shielded from the roadway and neighbours.

"It's a beautiful, stunning building," said Ken Woodley, superintendent of the public school board. "It's a gorgeous, modern design, good use of light and terrain."

The general contractors on the project, Clark Builders, say the building is moving along right on schedule and will be substantially complete by June 7.

Located right next door to the William MacDonald school on Taylor road, Ecole Allain will be ready to offer inspiration and fantasy to the some 150 students on the first day of school in September.

"With this school, we wanted students to know that possibilities are only limited by the imagination, you don't have to settle for the everyday," says Guy.