Transforming a Former Elementary School into a College’s New Campus Building

In 2022, Loyalist College engaged ACi to design the first building on what will be their new campus in Port Hope, Ontario. Intended as a “destination” college, the new gateway building involves a renovation and modernization of a former elementary school. The new campus will offer Loyalist’s signature supportive, creative, inclusive learning and working environment, hands-on training, and industry connections. 

Programming at the new campus was selected with the objectives of building on (and expanding) regional strengths in Northumberland County – connecting local companies related to precision agriculture and supply chain management with a new source of talent and serving as a catalyst for regional economic development. 

The existing school consisted of two buildings connected by a bridge and did not meet current accessibility standards. A new 2,000 square foot addition forms an accessible link between the two structures and includes an exit stair and elevator, making the new building fully OBC code compliant. New entrance canopies announce the main entrance and the newly built link. The east elevation façade at the accessible link features a glazed, champagne-coloured curtain wall to showcase activity on the inside.

All common spaces have been refreshed and reinvigorated to facilitate a student-centred, collaborative centre of higher learning. As part of the main entry sequence, visitors enter a welcoming reception space with media wall. A new kitchen and cafeteria have been created with seating for approximately 200 students, while the former gymnasium has converted to a dynamic multi-cultural and multi-purpose space to accommodate a variety of activity ranging from student presentations to smudging ceremonies.

The College will initially welcome approximately 120 students at the Port Hope Campus in September 2024, increasing to over 400 by 2026.