Historic Vancouver school re-opens after seismic upgrades
Posted November 20, 2012 5:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Originally built in 1914, an historic Vancouver school officially re-opened today after being seismically upgraded and partially replaced.
Education Minister Don McRae says Lord Kitchner Elementary is the 121st school to be completed.
“We have approximately another 50 that are underway or in the planning process and using the Association of Professional Engineers we are currently working our way through the list of 140 other projects across BC,” says McRae.
He adds about $840-million dollars has already been spent on seismic upgrades.
“To finish off the remaining schools we estimate it to be about $1.3 billion and we intend to complete that in the next ten years,” he notes.
The upgrade was done in two phases: The renewal of the original heritage two storey wood building, and the replacement of the main building which was constructed in 1924. The old building will be demolished. The new construction connects to the original heritage school house and Lord Kitchner Elementary now has capacity for about 450 students grades 1 to 7 and 60 full-day kindergartners.
McRae says the open design allows natural light to come in. A series of garage-like doors that connect each classroom is meant to encourage larger more interactive learning spaces.
