Packer Collegiate Institute sits on a compact, 1.68-acre site in a designated historic neighborhood, framed by some of the oldest examples of Victorian architecture in the city. Over time, this K–12 campus grew by building as needed, resulting in patchwork interiors and circulation routes. The onset of the pandemic, along with a leadership transition, sharpened the school’s focus on access, flow, and the need for shared spaces.

WXY led a collaborative planning effort grounded in the lived experiences of students, teachers, administrators, and parents, who provided insight through an extensive engagement process. Through workshops, surveys, and space-use analyses, we worked together to map a cohesive vision. The plan organizes priorities into three themes—Sustainability and Wellness, Educational Programming, Landscape and Garden—and lays out clear steps for implementation.

The plan focuses on optimizing how the campus works across all five buildings. It identifies opportunities to simplify movement, improve accessibility, and bring daylight and flexibility into the school’s everyday spaces. This framework led directly to the design of the Garden House, a new mass timber building that consolidates the Lower School and connects it to the Garden.

The change brought about by the plan is already visible. In 2023, the school began transforming administrative offices into student commons and repurposing existing classrooms for new uses. The plan serves as a flexible operating manual aligned with Packer’s Strategic Framework, guiding annual upgrades and long-term resilience. The campus now operates as an integrated, forward-looking environment that supports learning, community, and wellbeing.