James Cardinal McGuigan Secondary School
North York, Canada

James Cardinal McGuigan is a high school in Toronto’s Jane / Finch Corridor. The project includes a large addition to a 1970’s two storey school and extensive renovations to the existing facility. The addition replaced 18 existing portables with generously day-lit classrooms and added a new multi-use ‘cafetorium’ that is carefully integrated with the existing drama facilities and new Visual Arts Facility and Resource Centre. Renovations included the upgrade of specialized teaching spaces for the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s ‘Success for All’ program requirements. The school’s Autoshop was doubled in area and fitted out with much needed new equipment and computer capabilities. Selected existing classrooms were upgraded to current board standards and include a new science lab with work-group pods. Importantly, the project also provides the school with a new generous entry adjacent and creates a welcoming community facility.