Engineered Assemblies brings Indigenous Art to Life on Facade of new Paul First Nation School in Alberta
Uniting the house of design with the field of construction
A new school is being built for Kindergarten through Grade 9 students on the Paul First Nation Reserve 70 kilometers west of Edmonton in Alberta. With funding support from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, the building will house 315 students and will be an engaging hub where students can learn, grow, foster unity and strengthen the cultural aspirations of the Paul First Nation.
In keeping with Canada’s mission to highlight Indigenous culture and history, Engineered Assemblies was able to transfer a student-created beadwork design pattern onto exterior grade Formica Vivix phenolic panels that will become the outside face of the new school.
The student’s artwork was voted first choice by fellow students and the repeating beadwork pattern was incorporated throughout the perimeter of the school, with solid red panels above and red tapered panels below that highlight the building’s design. Design and consulting services for this project was proudly serviced by The Workun Garrick Partnership Architecture and Interior Design Inc.
Engineered Assemblies technical team provided early guidance to the architects to ensure they could achieve the desired scale and effect of the beadwork artwork utilizing a large-format custom panel building façade system. Engineered Assemblies’ technical team also assisted the fabricator, CCS Contracting, with conversion of the shop drawings to artwork files needed by their partner VIVIX for the Formica Younique® Design-a-Laminate process.
“It’s been very exciting to collaborate with students, architects, fabricators and contractors to bring this Indigenous art to life on such a large scale. Enveloping a school where young people will be viewing it on a daily basis. The sky is the limit on bringing creativity, artwork and architecture together,” said Ian Gruber, Technical Representative, Engineered Assemblies.
Viewing artwork has been found to help decrease stress and encourage creative thinking. It can brighten up a mindset or a town square. And in this case, it is bringing Indigenous art to life in an inspirational and meaningful way. Whether this type of facade is needed on hospitals, municipal buildings, schools, or retirement homes, Engineered Assemblies is proud to be a North American provider of art processed in phenolic panels on exterior building panels maximizing the life expectancy of the vibrant colourful displays.