Sacred Heart High School and Community Theatre

Stittsville, Ontario

Ottawa Catholic School Board

Sacred Heart High School accommodates approximately 1,000 students enrolled in grades 7 to 12. The highlight of the building is a three-storey, centrally located atrium that creates convenient access to the school, and serves as a focal point and meeting place for the public. A large skylight in the atrium admits daylight into the interior teaching spaces and corridors. The atrium design is energy-efficient, and enhances aesthetic qualities while improving the indoor environment.

This design is further enhanced by a large state-of-the-art multi-purpose 700-seat auditorium, which has its own separate entrance and parking area for independent evening use. This auditorium serves not only the school but is the “theatre” for the entire Stittsville community. The school incorporates advanced technology in HVAC systems, which redistribute surplus heat in order to balance the temperature throughout the building. The building qualified for an energy incentive grant under the Commercial Buildings Incentive Program (C.B.I.P.) administered by Natural Resources Canada. In 2005, a three-storey, 3,015 square-metre addition was built to accommodate the growing student population. The addition consisted of classrooms and science labs. Sacred Heart received the prestigious ‘Recognized Value Award’ at the Council of Education Facility Planner International (CEFPI), Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A.