The Limestone District School Board has broken ground on a new $10.4 million elementary school in Kingston that incorporates a mix of modern classrooms and specialized spaces.
Designed by Colbourne & Kembel, Architects (CKA) Inc., and being built by Tambro Construction Ltd., the 48,000-square-foot Molly Brant Elementary School will also be highly energy-efficient.
"The energy modelling completed during the design of the building indicates a savings of 63 per cent over the (benchmark) ASHRAE 90.1 -2010 (standard)," says project architect Rhonda Horne-McQuay.
"The high-insulation-value walls and roof were designed to complement the site-specific design. Solar shading of south side windows with permanent sunshades and tree planting along the west side windows assist in reducing solar gain along the west elevation."
The ASHRAE 90.1 standard provides minimum requirements for energy-efficient designs for buildings other than low-rise residential.
Expected to open during the 2016-2017 school year, the facility includes discovery centres, a kitchen lab and technology room, a learning commons (library) area, gym, outdoor recreation areas, day-care facilities and multi-use spaces for shared school and community use.
The building includes modern electrical systems that the school board said will "efficiently and effectively" support 21st century technology infrastructure as well as energy-efficient heating and lighting systems.
"A combination of high-efficiency fluorescent and LED light fixtures is utilized within the building," said Horne-McQuay. "The exterior lighting is all dark-sky-friendly LED fixtures."
The project is being undertaken by a team that includes structural engineers Halsall Associates, now part of WSP, mechanical and electrical engineers WSP, and landscape architects Scott Wentworth Landscape Group Ltd. Cost consultants are Hanscomb Ltd.
From a design perspective, the two-storey building incorporates several unique features, said Horne-McQuay, a Carleton University-educated architect and an associate in CKA. The Kingston firm was established in 1990.
She said the landscaping incorporates "naturalized" playground design into the layout, adding a large number of trees to the previous field setting.
"Outdoor learning areas are encircled by trees and include boulder seating."
The learning commons hub will serve double-duty, accommodating day-to-day school functions as well as community uses during the year. The library fully connects with the commons area.
"This bright space with daylight from the clerestory windows above includes risers for presentations and activities."
Connected to the commons area hub are the administrative area, classroom wings, gym and culinary arts lab.
Horne-McQuay said the second floor corridor offers" a unique view" of the commons from above.
"The commons hub is a place to not only pass by and say hello to others in the school but also have presentations, group work, library time and display works by the school and community."
In terms of building materials, the ground floor is finished in a masonry veneer, forming a base around the building. At the entry and reaching into the building’s lobby and library is a limestone veneer wall.
"This limestone feature reaches out into the community and connects the interior to the exterior, adding texture and interest to the commons and library," Horne-McQuay said.
The second floor level is clad in metal siding "arranged in a quilt-like pattern punctuating the grey backdrop with playful blue and lime green panels which bring a sense of welcome and playfulness to the building."
Outside, the kindergarten play yard is sheltered by the building. Trees clustered in the west side play space help create "micro-climate" sheltered areas within the school yard.
Horne-McQuay, whose firm was retained to design the school in November 2013, said the project is not expected to pose any particular challenges during construction.
CKA has undertaken previous projects for the Limestone District School Board. It joint ventured with Toronto’s ZAS on Ecole Sir John A. Macdonald Public School in Kingston and the Southview Public School in Napanee.
The Ministry of Education has provided $9.3 million in funding for the new kindergarten to Grade 8 school, named after renowned Mohawk matriarch Molly Brant, a British patriot who settled in Kingston after the American Revolution.
A ceremonial ground breaking took place Oct. 2 on the site at Lyons and Kirkpatrick streets. The event featured a Thanksgiving address in Mohawk and an Algonquin prayer and song, recognizing the significance of the school’s name.
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