From the outset, the design approach focused on creating a warm and welcoming interior. In central Alberta, students spend up to six months of the school year in cold, dreary weather. N53 designed the school to feel like a refuge—somewhere students and staff would want to stay, gather, and feel comfortable. Colourful sheet linoleum flooring and areas of exposed pine decking with fir glulam beams help bring that warmth indoors.

Durability was another major consideration. At the pedestrian level, the walls are painted concrete block—robust enough to withstand heavy use and occasional impact. Above the door height of 2200 mm, gypsum board and light-gauge steel framing were used to manage construction costs. Clerestory windows were provided to bring in natural light throughout the central corridor and common areas where students spend their lunch and spare periods.

It was important for the school to reflect the character and identity of its community. For Holy Trinity Academy, this meant integrating design elements that speak to its Christian heritage and values. Large corridor windows were used to tell the story of Christ’s life and sacrifice through the application of translucent film that reproduced religious paintings or presented as stained glass. Elsewhere, corridor gallery walls display works by notable artists from various periods, turning everyday circulation space into both a teaching tool and an expression of the school’s identity.

This respect for faith is found throughout the school's architectural form. In an early concept, a circular gathering space was supported by twelve paired columns—an abstract reference to the disciples being sent out two by two. Throughout the final design, the round exterior and interior columns symbolize the unity of God, and the “capitals” at the tops of the concrete columns subtly transition into the form of a cross.