Description of Historic Place

Ralston School (R2) sits on a flat, open site within the residential sector of Canadian Forces Base Suffield known as the village of Ralston. It is a one-storey asymmetrical structure with low horizontal massing, a flat roof and horizontal bands of windows in the International Style. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

Ralston School (R2) is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value
Ralston School (R2) is associated with the expansion of the Canadian military during the Cold War. It is also associated with the accompanying construction program undertaken during the 1950s to provide permanent, high quality accommodation for this force. It was one of many elementary schools constructed on bases as part of the community and support facilities provided by the department of National Defence to military families.

Architectural Value
Ralston School (R2) is a good example of the International Style as applied to civilian and military school design during the 1950s. It consists of a one-storey plan with multi-classroom structures situated on large open sites.

Environmental Value
The Ralston School (R2) reinforces the residential and recreational character of the setting. It continues to be surrounded by open sports fields and is generally compatible with nearby recreational and residential buildings. The school is well known in the community by virtue of its prominent location and its function as an elementary school.

Source:
Ralston School, Canadian Forces Base Suffield, Suffield, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement 96-041.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Ralston School (R2) should be respected.

Its functional structure, form, construction and materials, such as: the large symmetrical massing; the monumental central portico with simple, unadorned pilasters; the horizontal emphasis of its form, massing, and horizontal bands of windows; the flat roof and minimal decoration.

The manner in which Ralston School (R2) reinforces the residential and recreational character of the setting as evidenced by: its physical location with residential and recreational facilities of similar age, scale and design.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

Reasons for Designation
Ralston School is a “Recognized” Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values:

Historical value
Ralston School is associated with the expansion of the Canadian military force during the Cold War and the accompanying construction program undertaken during the 1950s to provide permanent, high-quality accommodation for this force. Ralston School was one of many elementary schools constructed on bases as part of the community and support facilities provided by the Department of National Defence to military families.

Architectural value
Ralston School isan example of the International style as it was applied to civilian and military school design during the 1950s, and consisted of a one storey plan, multi-classroom structures and were situated onlarge open sites. The school’s functional design continues to provide service as an elementary school. The original six-room school was designed by the Kingston, Ontario, architectural firm of Drever and Smith.

Environmental value
Ralston School reinforces the residential and recreational character of the setting and is situated on a large, open site within the residential section of CFB Suffield known as the Village of Ralston. It continues to be surrounded by open sports fields and is generally compatible with nearby recreational and residential buildings. The school is well-known in the community by virtue of its prominent location and its function as an elementary school.

Character-Defining Elements
The following character-defining elements of Ralston School should be respected:

Its use of the elements from the International Style, in conformity with typical mid-20th-century school design as manifested in:
- the low, horizontal massing; asymmetrical composition; flat roof; horizontal bands of windows, and absence of decoration.

The manner in which it reinforces the residential and recreational character of the setting as evidenced in:
- its large, open site, surrounded by sports fields.