Women Building Futures

Location: Edmonton, AB
Year: 2020
Status: Proposal
Size: 4180 m² / 45,000 ft²

Women Building Futures (WBF) is a non-profit organization that empowers women to become economically prosperous through industry recognized training in maintenance and construction related trades. The organization has experienced a high growth rate resulting in a need for increased and more appropriate space.

The design for a new building groups assembly spaces around a central multi-floor atrium, providing a synergy between training facilities and administrative/partnering uses. These assembly spaces include classrooms, general meeting rooms, the auditorium, hoteling stations, digital learning laboratory, as well as the cafeteria. Trade shops are located on upper atrium levels alongside administrative offices, which accommodate WBF Headquarters and other partnering institutions. The ground floor also accommodates the LRT Traction Substation and some retail space along 107 Street. New residential floors are located above the office floors.

The extensive use of local wood products is incorporated to help achieve sustainable measures and to promote Alberta wood products.