Southpointe Academy

Located in the heart of Tsawwassen, BC, Southpointe Academy is a thriving K–12 school that transformed a compact site into an innovative, vertically designed campus. Blending the feel of a traditional suburban school with the efficiency of a modern, space‑smart layout, the campus has been developed through a multi‑phase journey; each stage building on the last to create a connected, future‑focused place for learning.

Phase I: The project begins with Southpointe Academy’s ambition to reimagine what a school on a tight urban site could be. Omicron partnered with the school to deliver comprehensive architecture, engineering, interior design, and construction services, translating their early ideas into a functional and inspiring foundation for the campus. This first phase set the tone: a commitment to thoughtful design, seamless collaboration, and educational spaces that encourage interaction and connection.

Phase II: As the school evolved, Phase II focused on enhancing key student and staff areas within the existing building. The entire 4th floor was renewed, and a large exterior patio was enclosed to create a new cafeteria and dining hall, now a vibrant hub of daily activity. The work continued with the addition of new administration offices, a fitness room, and drama facilities, further supporting both the academic and extracurricular life of the school. This phase strengthened Southpointe’s sense of community, creating places where students could eat, move, express, and connect.

Phase III (Ongoing): Now, with enrollment growing and learning needs expanding, Southpointe Academy is embarking on its most ambitious step yet. Omicron is supporting the design and construction of the new East Building, an exciting addition that will extend the school’s capacity across the full K–12 curriculum. This 75,000 sq.ft. building, rising directly east of the current structure, will introduce more than 30 new learning spaces, including STEM and science labs, maker and language labs, and a second full‑size gym. Its design features an innovative approach to site constraints: the upper floors are suspended over a covered parking area at grade, enabling the project to satisfy municipal circulation and parking requirements while maximizing usable space above. The majority of the building’s functions are placed on floors 3 through 6, including a full‑size gymnasium on the 5th floor, another example of Southpointe’s vertical campus model.

When complete, the expanded campus will offer over 150,000 sq.ft. of academic space on a site of less than two acres. This achievement showcases a forward‑thinking approach to programming, site planning, and architectural design, using vertical construction to create exceptional educational experiences within a compact footprint.

Throughout all phases, Omicron’s integrated architecture, interior design, mechanical, electrical, and structural teams continue to collaborate closely with the Southpointe community. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of traditional school design, creating a campus that serves today’s students while setting a new benchmark for the future of educational development.

‍