Construction is set to begin this summer on a new, $46.5 million, seismically safe Cedar Hill Middle School in Greater Victoria, B.C. that will have a net-zero energy design and be the greenest in the district.
The structure will incorporate air-source and ground-source heat pumps and have a geothermal field and 100-kilowatt-hour photovoltaic system. The aim is to achieve a 90-per-cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The current school on the property bounded by Cedar Hill Road, Gregory Place and Garnet Road, is nearly 100 years old and has a high level of seismic vulnerability. The new facility is being built on the southeast portion of the current site. The current school will continue to function while construction proceeds and will be demolished when the new structure is built.
“Cedar Hill Middle is a high priority project for the district because it is a H1 seismic risk building and in poor condition,” says Deb Whitten, superintendent at the Greater Victoria School District. “In addition, the school is a key asset to meet current and projected enrolment for regular and district educational programs.”
H1 is deemed to be the most vulnerable of structures and at the highest risk of widespread damage or structural failure.
The school board has approved the design for a low-carbon, seismic replacement school. The next step in the process is to get approval from the provincial Ministry of Education and Childcare.
The new school will be purposefully built to serve 575 students and foster greater student engagement, collaboration and connection to Indigenous education and the traditional territories of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. It will be the first middle school to be constructed in the school district since 2004.
According to Whitten, the school “will meet the seismic standards and accessibility standards of today’s building code requirements.”
The structure will be two storeys and have 5,383 square metres of space. Renderings show a sleek-looking building with a large inviting entrance and lots of windows. Inside, there are high ceilings and wide stairways.
The school will have learning spaces and learning neighbourhoods, which are groups of classrooms located around an open space to provide students with a smaller learning community within a larger building.
All 21 classrooms in the school will have windows to provide natural light and fresh air. There will be six designated spaces for art, drama, music, foods, textiles and a skills and technology shop. Four inclusive education classrooms are distributed over the two floors, which are integrated in the small learning communities and used for counselling and supporting students. An education hub will be centrally located on the ground floor.
A gymnasium with an all-gender change room and the option of a mezzanine are also included. There will also be a library with an Indigenous welcome centre for students and families that has exterior access to connect with the outdoors. Indigenous culture and artwork are also embodied in the design of the school.
There will be outdoor learning and gathering spaces to enhance land-based hands-on learning. Stained glass, student artwork and a wooden bench from the office of the current school will be preserved and featured in the new build. Ramps and an elevator in a central location will be provided to improve accessibility.
The site plan includes two sports fields, a basketball court, additional parking and a multi-use path with a raised curb and separated pedestrian and bike lanes. The school will have two entrances to drop off and pick up students.
Construction is expected to take about two years. The new school is expected to welcome students in fall 2025. However, officials say it is possible that high costs and shortage of skilled labour and materials may impact the project schedule and budget.
According to Whitten, students have been at the centre of the decisions in the design process.
“The building has been designed embedding the core competencies for middle school in order to deliver unique programs that engage students in their learning.”
Greater Victoria School Board chair Nicole Duncan says the seismic replacement of Cedar Hill Middle School supports modern-day learning in a safe space.
“Through student, staff, and community engagement, we have heard the importance of creating an inclusive and accessible school that is welcoming for all learners. We recognize that learning practices and requirements continue to evolve, and we must build a school that will inspire and provide amenities that support future generations.
“Looking to the immediate future need to demonstrate our commitment to address climate change, we must also consider environmental factors. The new build will set a new standard for sustainability in the school district.”
The province is picking up $42.9 million of the project while the school district is contributing $3.6 million.
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