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).
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Beer Parlour Fridays: The Cadillac Hotel in Cadillac Saskatchewan, visited in June 2024 by Chris and Rob. Sadly, they unexpectedly closed soon after their visit, but it is for sale and hopefully will reopen under a new owner. Those amazing SK skies! Watch for the Cadillac Hotel and others appearing at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. Celebrating old school watering holes!
Scroll down to the comments for more!👇 _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: before Pilsner in Saskatchewan, there was Bohemian or simply Boh. For decades, it was the most popular beer in the province. Incidentally, both Pil and Boh were for decades products of Sick's Brewery. This Boh cap was found in the basement of an old hotel in SW Saskatchewan during a visit by the Beer Parlour Project. It celebrates the beer winning a prestigious best in world award in the late 1960s.
Beer Parlour Fridays: here's a standard issue cast-metal leg round-top Beer Parlour table. These were supplied through the liquor control board (who heavily regulated the business) and therefore could be found at most drinking establishments. They date back to the 1940s-1960s period and surprisingly, we still see them out there in the wild all the time. Often they were covered in terrycloth to help sop up spilled beer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Tompkins SK Hotel/Lucky Loon Saloon, previously Woody's. It was just a drive by visit and not a stop on the recent Beer Parlour Project tour of SW Saskatchewan. Had it been open we would have checked it out, however. Celebrating old school watering holes at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
Beer Parlour Fridays: The Wildwood Hotel in Wildwood Alberta, built in the late 1950s to replace one that earlier burned down. Visited in October 2024 by Chris and Rob. Watch for this hotel and others appearing at https://www.BeerParlourProject.com. Celebrating old school watering holes!
Scroll down to the comments for more!👇 _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
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!