St. Francis Cree Bilingual School

About This Project

ISL provided structural engineering design for awâsisak kâ-nîmîhtocik – St. Francis Cree Bilingual School, a new three-storey, 9,000 square metre facility in Saskatoon. The school was designed by Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture with input from Elders, the community, and the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Board to reflect Cree knowledge, language, and culture.

ISL’s work included the design of continuous flight auger concrete pile foundations, grade beams, and a slab-on-grade floor system. The superstructure features steel columns and beams with a composite floor system, while insulated precast concrete wall panels form the exterior envelope. Through Building Information Modelling (BIM) coordination and collaboration with the precast trade, ISL helped achieve the building’s distinctive curved geometry with precision and stability.

Home to 600 students and 70 childcare spaces, the school provides a welcoming, culturally grounded environment that celebrates Cree language, knowledge, and community. Spaces such as the Elder’s room, medicines lab, research and teaching greenhouse, and Child and Family Wellness Centre support a holistic Cree approach to education — creating a lasting space of connection, identity, and pride for future generations.