The North Albion school was designed by architects Craig, Madill, Abram and Ingleson.

The sports teams of these clubs have always been vibrant although the selection of athletes have always been limited due to the socio-economic class the school is surrounded by.

[6] North Albion earned a reputation for academic and athletic excellence from the time of its inception through the 1980s.

In recent years, discipline has improved and, as a result, the post-secondary success rate has been rising dramatically.

North Albion Collegiate Institute is a 171,804 sq ft (15,961.1 m2) two-storey secondary school in 12.16 acres (4.92 ha) of land, features 29 academic classrooms, six science labs, seven computer labs, two music rooms, a visual arts room, a drama room, three vocational shops for automotive and construction, a 750-seated auditorium, cafeteria with servery, three gymnasiums with the larger one that can divided, and a library.

The building has a composite layout, like most high schools in Etobicoke built in the 1950s and 1960s, it has the auditorium located separately in the southwestern corner and the locker color accents of white, orange, gold, light yellow and blue.

J. Keiller MacKay opened the school officially and gave North Albion its motto: Virtus, Officium, Veritas – Excellence, Service, Truth.

The Olympian torch and the book below the motto on the crest signify the struggle for the light of knowledge.