The West Vancouver Schools Early Childhood Education Centre next door to École Pauline Johnson represents a new standard for Canadian public education. Opening this year, the learning space will provide a permanent, nature-inspired sanctuary for 116 children, born from a partnership with NUQO Modular and Natural Pod that prioritizes speed, sustainability, and honors the developmental needs of our youngest learners.
A Fifteen-Year Vision for Community Health
This project is the milestone of a 15-year journey led by Dr. Sandra-Lynn Shortall, Assistant Superintendent for West Vancouver Schools. Since joining the District, Shortall has been a steadfast advocate for the integration of early childhood education (ECE) into the K-12 system, recognizing that a child’s success begins long before they enter Kindergarten. Her work has focused on transforming the school’s role from a daytime facility into a true community hub—one where “seamless transitions” for families are the priority.
The District of West Vancouver’s 2021 Child Care Action Plan validated this long-term vision, identifying a vital need for expanded infant and toddler care and framing early childhood education as a primary social determinant of health. By finally integrating these spaces directly onto centrally located École Pauline Johnson grounds, the community is realizing a decade-and-a-half-long goal: strengthening the social infrastructure that supports cognitive growth and long-term economic stability for families.
“Early childhood education and care is a critical conversation in Canadian public education. Protecting and strengthening partnerships with field experts in ECE and established high-quality child care operators is essential to building a successful and integrated early learning system. This project is about creating a space where children, families, and educators feel a deep sense of belonging.” —Dr. Sandra-Lynn Shortall, Assistant Superintendent for West Vancouver Schools
Built using NUQO Modular’s off-site approach, the center meets the urgent need for early childhood infrastructure quickly, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and care.
The Environment as an Active Partner in Learning
The collaboration between NUQO Modular and Natural Pod is grounded in a shared respect for how physical environments shape human experience—particularly in early childhood education. Rather than following a single pedagogical doctrine, NUQO approached the project as highly specialized civic infrastructure, where delivery precision, sequencing, and material performance directly influence daily care.
Off-site construction enabled careful control over acoustics, air quality, daylighting, and spatial clarity—elements that are essential in early childhood environments but often compromised in conventional builds. The design prioritizes a calm, reliable environment, intentionally crafted to support children’s emotional regulation and empower educators in their daily work.
While NUQO provides the high-performance structural envelope, Natural Pod’s furniture elements create the warmth and character of the interior environment. The West Vancouver Schools Early Childhood Education Centre site incorporates natural light, FSC®-certified wood, and organic forms that create a gentle sensory experience. By utilizing sustainable, non-toxic materials, the space becomes a nature-based extension of the West Vancouver landscape, ensuring the indoor environment supports both physical health and emotional well-being.
Supporting the Educators Who Shape the Future
From the outset, the School District and NUQO approached the project’s design with a shared conviction: that high-quality care begins with honoring the professionals who deliver it. By treating educators as knowledge keepers whose insights informed the building’s very bones, they created a space that nurtures both child and caregiver, ensuring that those who are the backbone of the system have an environment that sustains them.
The holistic design reflects specific, empathetic choices:
- Ergonomic Flow: The layout eliminates awkward dividers in favor of an open, supportive flow that reduces physical strain on staff.
- Acoustics and Privacy: High-privacy bathroom and change areas prioritize the dignity of the child while supporting professional caregiving practices.
- Aesthetic Wellness: Wood textures, soft palettes, and access to natural light create a workplace that reduces daily stress and supports long-term educator retention.
A B Corp Collaboration Rooted in Local Values
The project also celebrates the values alignment between two female-led, B.C.-based B Corps. NUQO’s role ensures that social values were embedded at the construction stage itself, including Indigenous-led delivery, reduced on-site disruption, and predictable outcomes. For West Vancouver, this partnership ensures that the $15 million investment from the ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund supports a local, circular economy.
Every piece of Natural Pod furniture is manufactured in British Columbia and backed by a lifetime guarantee. This transparent supply chain—from forest to classroom—ensures that public investment directly supports local green jobs and sustainable manufacturing.
A New Early Childhood Education Blueprint for the Province
As completion nears, the center stands as a proof-of-concept for how school districts can lead the way in owning and operating high-quality early childhood education assets.
“From ground-breaking to occupancy, this center was delivered in just nine months. That timeline matters. For a female-led construction company building spaces for children, nine months carries a quiet symbolism of care, intention, and responsibility. We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us to build environments for the youngest members of our community. That trust shaped every decision we made, from how precisely we built, to how urgently we delivered.” —Rory Richards, Founder and President of NUQO Modular
In West Vancouver, the vision is becoming a reality: a space where the architecture itself tells children they are valued, and where educators are supported as essential stewards of early learning. Together, NUQO Modular, Natural Pod, and the West Vancouver School District demonstrate how early childhood education, when treated as essential civic infrastructure, can be delivered with care, speed, and long-term impact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How is West Vancouver Schools redefining Early Childhood Education?
West Vancouver Schools is integrating early childhood education (ECE) directly into the K-12 public system, viewing it as a primary social determinant of health rather than just daycare. Led by the vision of Dr. Sandra-Lynn Shortall, the new center at West Vancouver Schools acts as a “community hub,” ensuring seamless transitions for families and strengthening the social infrastructure that supports long-term cognitive and economic success.
What are the benefits of using modular construction for childcare centers?
The West Vancouver project utilizes NUQO Modular’s off-site construction approach to deliver high-quality infrastructure in just nine months. Beyond speed, this method allows for precise control over critical environmental factors like acoustics, air quality, and daylighting. This results in a calm, high-performance building envelope that supports emotional regulation—a level of quality often difficult to achieve in conventional builds.
How does the center’s design support educator well-being and retention?
The facility was designed with the conviction that high-quality early childhood education relies on supported educators. The layout features an “ergonomic flow” that eliminates awkward dividers and reduces physical strain. By incorporating high-privacy areas and aesthetic wellness elements—such as soft palettes and natural light—the design treats educators as respected professionals, helping to reduce daily stress and improve staff retention.
Why is the partnership between NUQO Modular and Natural Pod significant?
This project represents a values-aligned collaboration between two female-led, British Columbia-based B Corps. The partnership prioritizes a local, circular economy, ensuring that the $15 million public investment supports local green jobs. Natural Pod’s FSC®-certified furniture and NUQO’s sustainable construction ensure the space is non-toxic and environmentally responsible, acting as a “nature-based extension” of the local landscape.
