Buildings

Lord Selkirk School

Address:170 Poplar Avenue
Use:Education
Original Use:Education
Constructed:1974
Architects:IKOY
W. I. Enns, Winnipeg School Division in-house architect

More Information

Falling at the end of time period for this study and clearly at the end of the modern era of design, this school crosses over into post-modernism in its massing, wall treatment and use of classrooms.

This is the third Lord Selkirk School on the site, a fitting tribute to the philanthropist and dreamer whose vision helped build the city of Winnipeg; the previous schools date from 1908 and 1913. This is a large elementary school designed for a capacity of 575 students in kindergarten to Grade 6.

Design Characteristics

Suburb:West Elmwood
  • Nearly square, it is built in one-and-two storey sections depending on the function of the space; it is firmly in the design school of the 'internal light' of the growing mind, an open-air classroom concept that is expressed externally through the absence of windows
  • The east wall takes three steps in to an entrance and these indentations are all set with large square windows and the north wall in the kindergarten section also has some plain windows
  • It is covered with pre-case panels and features a graphic on the north wall of paper-doll children
  • The yard on the south side is a good size and is bordered by mature trees