The project generated some controversy as the Collegiate Board presented a plan that included an auditorium, double gym, and a cafeteria.

The Ottawa Property Owners association objected to these as expensive and unneeded luxuries, and the mayor Charlotte Whitton agreed.

There are tennis courts, a large parking lot, well equipped science labs, technical shops and a library.

There were horizontal bands of windows in silver aluminum, which were later retrofitted with tinted glass in brown anodized frames.

The school's most architecturally interesting feature is a smokestack with a heavy fire door at the base for cleaning out the ash and soot.

Rideau was a mixed stream school offering Academic (advanced), Applied (general) and Essential level courses.

The school board published a business plan from November 2017, and in January 2018 the provincial government announced funding support, with this description of the project:[6] "This proposed community hub is a joint project between two community organizations [Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Centre and Odawa Native Friendship Centre] focused on Indigenous and non-Indigenous services including: alternative secondary school, urban Indigenous healthy living, life-long care, programs such as those for homelessness and bail, community justice, healing and wellness, cultural resources, a food bank, Indigenous job fair, housing, HIV/AIDS awareness, employment and training, and Inuit supports for students and youth.