SJ Burnside Education Centre

The building was more than 100 years old. It had additions in 1940 and 1963. Then Burnside Elementary School closed in the early 2000s. There were plenty of challenges in turning SJ Burnside into a vibrant learning space. It didn’t help that the school district was facing mounting budget and schedule challenges. That’s when DIRTT got the call.

Working with the existing footprint of an aging building can be a challenge but designing with DIRTT makes it easier. Keeping exposed ceilings and hardwood floors held on to the character of the building while custom walls fit perfectly into the space. Plug-and-play power sped up installation, while bringing flexibility to the space for the future. This was crucial because renovation at SJ Burnside was going on in the midst of a trade shortage. As a custom prefab solution, DIRTT met their critical construction deadlines and got teachers and students back to school. Now the building is filled with functional offices, classrooms with lots of writable surfaces and students who love the new space.