Case Study
West Bedford School
Kingspan's KS Series insulated metal panels and Kingspan Accent Fins give a playful touch of color to a future-focused school design.
Bedford, Nova Scotia, has seen extreme growth over the last few years due to its historic charm, scenic waterfront views, and famous natural harbor – one of the largest in the world. Bedford is a district of Halifax, also known as Nova Scotia’s capital. According to Statistics Canada’s 2021 census, the population of Halifax grew nearly 10% in just five years – a significant leap.
To accommodate this growth, Architecture49 was tasked with designing what is now the largest public school in Nova Scotia, West Bedford School.
Creating a Future-Proof Solution for a Growing Population
IMPs are perfect for large scale buildings, including K-12 schools
West Bedford School’s new campus can accommodate 2,000 students ranging from pre-primary to grade 12, making it the largest public school in Nova Scotia.
According to Architecture 49, West Bedford School “features a design that combines a PP-8 and a 9-12 school in a single building. These schools share central facilities, including mechanical and electrical systems, two adjacent gymnasiums, and a larger cafetorium for community and school events. Separate wings for different grade groups connect at the shared cafetorium, allowing each school to retain its distinct identity with separate entrances and the option to isolate from shared areas. Separate wings for different grades connect at the shared cafeteria, allowing each school to retain its distinct identity with separate entrances and the option to isolate from shared areas.”
Kingspan Accent Fins add Pops of Color
A perfect compliment to the unique accent colors throughout the campus
The school's design features pops of playful colors – blue, green, purple and yellow – along the exterior while maintaining a sleek profile. In order to achieve a kid-friendly, yet modern look, IMPs were used due to their design flexibility.
Architecture49 used 50,300 square feet of Kingspan IMPs, installed by Clad-Tech, including Kingspan KS Mini Micro-Rib panels in the colors Ascot White and Charcoal. Kingspan Accent Fins were also used with Sherwin-Williams Fluropon coatings in the colors Inch Worm, Eccentric Lime, Mahle Blue, June Blue, Goldwood, Bright Idea, Teal Blue, and Monterrey Blue.
Kingspan’s KS Series insulated metal wall panels provide unique aesthetics through a wide range of profiles while delivering high thermal performance. Adjustable module widths can integrate for distinct architectural flair. KS Series panels can be customized with trimless ends and pre-formed corners to provide a clean, finished appearance.
Kingspan’s Accent Fin is a cladding accessory and component that gives the building design a finishing touch and helps it stand out from the crowd. Kingspan's Accent Fin products are designed to be compatible with Kingspan’s KS Series IMP range, fitting perfectly in the joinery between panels.
IMPs also offer excellent thermal efficiency capabilities, making it an exemplary material for the building envelope of West Bedford School. Earlier this year, it was recorded that Nova Scotia experienced five feet of snow after a historic nor’easter hit the region. Just days after this storm, Nova Scotia received an additional 15 inches of snow.
Featuring a full air and water barrier and a core of continuous, rigid insulation, IMPs offer an advantage in thermal efficiency over many traditional wall assembly materials for the same wall thickness. The built-in insulation in the metal panels creates an excellent barrier against heat transfer, helping the school reduce energy costs while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment for students during the harsh winter months.
