Anchored to the contours of a steep hillside in Calgary’s Montgomery neighbourhood, this newly constructed high school reimagines educational space as an extension of the landscape. The design embraces topography as a creative driver—orienting the building along the slope to restore green space and unlock a vertically layered learning experience.

The architecture unfolds in section, revealing a fluid procession of spaces that rise with the terrain. At its centre, the Learning Commons is bathed in natural light—its triple-height glazing opening the interior to the landscape beyond. Tiered seating blurs the line between amphitheatre, corridor, and social hub, creating a space as much about movement as it is about gathering.

The façade draws directly from the site’s geology. Horizontal bands—ribbon-like striations inspired by sedimentary rock formations—wrap the building in rhythmic layers, bending inward to cradle the Commons and express moments of transition and pause. This language of movement and compression continues inside, where the building flows between zones of openness and intimacy.

FFCA North High School explores the tension between tradition and transformation. Its academic model is rooted in structure, but the architecture invites exploration. Lecture-style classrooms are paired with breakout zones and specialty spaces. There’s precision to the plan—but also freedom to adapt, collaborate, and linger.

Threaded through the building is the Assembly Space, offering three distinct spatial experiences: a lower-level presentation area for intimate talks, a middle zone with seating pods for daily social interaction, and an upper study lounge adjacent to the Commons. Each level is tuned to a different rhythm, inviting students to gather, focus, or recharge.

The result is a school that feels anything but institutional. It’s sculpted, site-specific, and attuned to the rhythms of teenage life. Here, learning isn’t confined to classrooms—it happens in stairwells, lounges, thresholds, and in-between moments. FFCA High School is a building that teaches as much through its architecture as it does through its curriculum.

Design: GGA-Architecture
Contractor: LEAR Construction
Photography: Jason Dziver