Yaqan Nuiky School

The Yaqan Nukiy School is a K-7 elementary school run by the Lower Kootenay Band in Creston. The existing school is open to indigenous and non-indigenous students and had outgrown its capacity. With valuable contributions and input from school faculty, Studio 9 helped the Lower Kootenay Band double the school program’s capacity with this new facility. The modern facility is small in size but offers students and faculty bright, spacious learning and working environments. Four classrooms spread out over two floors on a compact floor plan are colour coded for easy distinction of spaces. A central stairwell and shared facilities make up the core of the building. The exterior is designed with energy efficiency in mind with minimal windows yet provides enough glazing to allow for ample natural light and fresh air. Naturally preserved cedar siding respects the indigenous craft of building and local matrerial selection and is designed to age gracefully over time.