Irene Kelleher Elementary: Learning Without Limits

Abbotsford School District opened its brand-new elementary school in 2022. Perched atop Eagle Mountain, it was built in honor of Irene Kelleher—a respected community leader and one of the first people of Indigenous heritage to receive a BC Teacher Certification. The school echoes an Indigenous story about the great flood from years ago. Cedar and canoe-like elements throughout connect the school to this rich heritage. 

When the school district sought CDI's support, it was clear that preserving its deep roots in Indigenous culture and creating a flexible learning experience for its students were vital. CDI was able to accomplish these aims and manage one of the district's pressing challenges—its budget. 

Craig Ward, Education Projects Director at CDI, recalls how closely the team worked with the school to design a solution that met their financial needs while still delivering quality and functionality. "We ensured that our design fit within their budget without compromising the essentials, providing a practical and high-quality solution that addressed their specific requirements."

Flexibility in Learning Environments

In the common areas of Irene Kelleher Elementary, social engagement, and relationship building were promoted through comfortable seating and bistro-style setups, while students' various learning needs were accommodated with movable, curved bookshelves. "One of the key goals for the Irene Kelleher Elementary School was to create flexible learning environments," said Craig. "This flexibility extends from common spaces into classrooms as well, providing a versatile space that can adapt to various teaching methods and activities."

CDI installed flip-top tables with whiteboard tops in many of the school's classrooms to encourage brainstorming, creativity, and team building. These tables allow students to quickly generate and share their ideas with educators and peers. The CDI team found opportunities to elevate the educational experience around every corner. 

Teachers were provided with sit-stand desks that support a variety of teaching styles while promoting movement and active engagement in the classroom. "The flexible seating and movable furniture we explored in this project are not only practical but also enhance aesthetic and functional aspects of the school's learning environment, providing a modern and adaptable space for both students and teachers," added Ward.

Honoring Their Indigenous Roots

Irene Kelleher taught for 20 years in small, rural schools. She returned home to Abbotsford in 1939 and soon became principal of North Poplar Elementary. When she retired in 1964, she was the principal of Abbotsford Elementary. 

With Kelleher's legacy in mind, the school district wanted to bring in design elements that reflected her teaching background and contribution to the community. 

CDI could source specialty tables that achieved just this while remaining within budget. A pinwheel-style table featuring an indigenous medicine wheel and textiles, such as a classroom rug, brought the school's dynamic influences front and center in the furniture design.

A Nature-Connected Learning Experience

Another unique focus of Irene Kelleher Elementary was creating classrooms and common areas that maintained the school's intentional connection with the outdoors. The vibrant natural environment surrounding the school infuses the space with natural lighting and creates a warm, inviting educational environment, and the school needed the furniture chosen for the space to follow suit.  

Learning spaces designed to nurture community and connection spill seamlessly into the outdoors, allowing students to take advantage of outdoor access with ease. 

This unique perspective inspired CDI to bring in soft furniture textiles and nature-inspired designs to further foster this ethos and intentionality. 

The Project Plan Comes Alive

Ultimately, a smooth installation wowed the school district, who sincerely appreciated the hassle-free, flawless experience. CDI provided an end-to-end delivery, site clean-up, and furniture placement service unique to their team so that the school could use the space right away. There were no surprises and only successes to celebrate as the school staff and students settled into their finished space. 

"It was important for us to ensure we installed everything precisely as needed, and it was gratifying to hear that the school's staff appreciated our attention to detail and the efficiency of our work," said Ward.

The Irene Kelleher project was a collaborative effort between a school with a vision for modern education infused with Indigenous heritage and a design team that was ready and able to bring that vision to life. The CDI team knew that "the school had specific objectives, particularly in creating unique, flexible spaces while adhering to a strict budget. We were able to provide solutions that meet these needs, focusing on practical yet innovative design elements that would enhance the learning experience for all."