c̓əsqənelə Elementary labyrinth, Maple Ridge

A stand-out walking labyrinth at the new c̓əsqənelə Elementary School in Maple Ridge: concentric StreetBond lines held to a consistent width across the full diameter. Our most recent labyrinth, and the most detailed.

A walking labyrinth at the new c̓əsqənelə Elementary School in Maple Ridge: concentric orange lines on fresh black asphalt, laid out so the path stays a consistent width from the outer ring to the centre. It is a walking pathway that invites students to slow down and move through the design on purpose, and it is among the most detailed labyrinths Square One has installed.

The difficulty with a labyrinth on asphalt is precision. Any drift in the width or spacing of the lines shows as the eye follows the path inward, so the layout was set from CAD references before the coating crew touched the surface. The lines are StreetBond, a water-based acrylic coating, which gives exact colour coordinates and an aggregate finish with traction for the running and jumping of a school recess while staying comfortable for the slow walk the labyrinth is meant for.

The photographs show the labyrinth from above with the school grounds still under construction behind it. The manufacturer publishes StreetBond for asphalt and concrete with an 8+ year life cycle, recoated rather than replaced. A school district or architect planning a labyrinth or grounds feature should ask for CAD layout on site before the first line goes down, and for a coating with an anti-skid aggregate rather than paint.

Read the full story: c̓əsqənelə Elementary labyrinth: a walking pathway in Maple Ridge