This curious structure is unlike any other in Calgary. Looking more the part of a military installation, it’s a school built in style trendy at the time in certain parts of the world but never widely adopted here. They call it Brutalism and it’s one of a handful of buildings in the city to which we can connect the word. We’re at Mayland Heights School in the community of the same name and it’s one interesting hunk of concrete.
Built in 1968 it’s hidden away down some side street and not that well known but really stands out once in view. What strange thoughts on seeing it. “Is that a substation or something? Prison? Fallout shelter? Have we landed in Warsaw during the Cold War?” That sterile and uninviting appearance belies the fact that it’s actually a fun and care free place for kids.
Mayland Heights School: it’s BRUTAL(ist)! Architecturally speaking with Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
This post was made possible by a gift from our own “Connie Biggart” and we’re grateful she has a real job to help underwrite operations here. Do the same…
The building has been historically recognized by the city but at present that comes with no protection.
Scroll down for photos and to comment.
Brutalist/ism refers to the raw (or in French:“brut”) form of the buildings and the materials used to construct them and not in the negative sense as in the word “brutal”. Still, the wrong definition is often used and in response to the bad connotations, it’s sometimes called Heroic Architecture to soften things up. Dating back to the 1940s, the movement was at its height of popularity in the 1960s and 1970s before falling out of favour.
Brutalist buildings are characterized by their massive form, angular shapes and a rough, unfinished look to their exterior. Large unbroken surfaces and a minimal number of windows, or small windows can be typical too. The main material from which they are made is almost always bare concrete and this of all best defines the style, although brick and glass are often incorporated as secondary elements.
There’s a certain military vibe and ominous air to buildings such as this and they’re often criticized as soul sucking, heartless or cold in appearance. We get it, but at the same time have a soft spot for these unloved freaks.
In downtown, the Calgary Board of Education building (built about the same time as Mayland Heights School) and the old Planetarium are two noteworthy examples of Brutalist architecture elsewhere in the city. More often than not, this type of design was applied to institutional buildings here in Canada although elsewhere on the planet were synonymous with high-rise housing complexes.
With all that cement and reinforcing steel, tearing one down when the time comes, will be a herculean effort. For that reason alone, we don’t think Mayland Heights School will be going anywhere soon even if the odd report suggests it’s not in the best of shape in some areas.
The city has this to say about the building:
Gordon Atkins, who designed the school, is a significant Calgary architect. He was the first Albertan to be awarded the Massey Medal and the first Alberta architect elected to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. His award-winning commissions include the Eighth Avenue Mall (1968-69) and the Stoney Tribal Administration Building at Morley (1976-80). The school is an excellent example of Brutalist style that expressed the beauty and power of concrete.
The community of Mayland Heights was founded in the 1960s with most buildings here dating from this period. Bordered on all sides by busy roadways it’s sort of cut off or isolated from the rest of the city. There’s Deerfoot in the west and Barlow in the east. Then there’s the Trans Canada in the north and finally Memorial in the south. We’re boxed in!
A few blocks to the west of Mayland Heights School is a former Safeway, 1960s built, that’s been our radar for a while. It’s now an independent food store but with the building retaining all its original design elements, including the signature Marina arched roof, this makes it a rare catch today.
Looking at the building, the whole thing could be one giant bunker. We had a lengthy conversation with some former staff and asked if there was a secret Civil Defence room or some such thing inside, but they claimed to know nothing. I think they’re hiding it, though…
Bev Facey is Sherwood Park is a concrete bunker too. People first thought it was going to be the women’s prison— but it wasn’t It was an excellent school just ugly
Great post. I used to go over to Mayland every few years to photograph Mayland Convenience store (now a church). Though I drove near the school many times I never picked up on the Brutalist design. Would you consider the Glenbow Museum at least partly of that school ? Lots of concrete, minimal windows – a big fugly box.
We looked up that convenience store – we love places like that and photograph/patronize them when ever we can. We never knew about it, so missed out. We’re not schooled enough to say for sure, but would say minimally there’s Brutalist design influences in the Glenbow building. It’s pretty cold and sterile and that’s often one noted element of Brutalism (even if not necessarily intentional).
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
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Totally could be a bunker or contain one.
Looking at the building, the whole thing could be one giant bunker. We had a lengthy conversation with some former staff and asked if there was a secret Civil Defence room or some such thing inside, but they claimed to know nothing. I think they’re hiding it, though…
Reminds me of something around the time of the Soviet Union
That’s what came to mind for us too.
Hmmm. Looks like a factory smoke stack near the entrance and that chain link at the top of the wall like a jail.
If asked most people who didn’t know what it is would probably think it a jail.
Brutalist architecture is the best.
There’s a strange charm to them.
Same brutalist style as the old planetarium!
Yes, along those lines.
I’ve seen more inviting buildings on Mysteries of the Abandoned.
Yes! As a little I might have been terrified of the place.
Sharing it over to Calgary Architecture group. Lots of convos on this school
Thank you for that!
It looks like crowbar hotel to me.
Lock’em up!
Bev Facey is Sherwood Park is a concrete bunker too. People first thought it was going to be the women’s prison— but it wasn’t
It was an excellent school just ugly
Just looked it up and yes, it’s pretty stark too.
I’m guessing it has the best windows.
Or none at all…
It is pretty industrial.
It’s unique for sure.
Schools are called jails for a reason …
Here, they’re pulling no punches!
Both the school and the old Safeway were filming locations for Fargo. The school as a bunkerish sheriff’s office
Coincidence! We just saw that episode and recently photographed that old Safeway (but not yet posted).
Soviet.
…Union?
Great post. I used to go over to Mayland every few years to photograph Mayland Convenience store (now a church). Though I drove near the school many times I never picked up on the Brutalist design. Would you consider the Glenbow Museum at least partly of that school ? Lots of concrete, minimal windows – a big fugly box.
We looked up that convenience store – we love places like that and photograph/patronize them when ever we can. We never knew about it, so missed out. We’re not schooled enough to say for sure, but would say minimally there’s Brutalist design influences in the Glenbow building. It’s pretty cold and sterile and that’s often one noted element of Brutalism (even if not necessarily intentional).
I love these buildings, especially the original Planetarium. We have just enough of them, because variety is the spice of life.
We agree. It’s not the most photogenic building – in fact it’s butt ugly – but there in lies the charm. It’s quirky and that we love.
As always – interesting background information
So happy you liked it!