Familiar BC Firm to Design New Parkcrest Elementary School
The Board of Education has chosen a familiar British Columbian firm to design the rebuild of Parkcrest Elementary School.
Station One Architects (formerly CHP Architects) was one of eight firms who responded to School District No. 73’s public request for proposal (RFP) for prime consultants. Station One is also the firm being used for the Valleyview Secondary expansion project, and its bid was recommended to the Board of Education by Facilities Director Art McDonald.
“The Board is pleased to work on another capital project with the architects that designed the Valleyview Secondary School expansion,” said Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw. “The school community engagement process for Valleyview Secondary was inclusive and engaging and we look forward to a similar process in the near future with the Parkcrest School Community.”
Based in Chilliwack, the firm’s projects have included the design for Canyon Falls Middle School in Kelowna and the H.S. Grenda Middle School in Lake Country as well as an upgrade and addition at Langley Secondary.
Justin Dyck, a partner with Station One, says the firm is excited to begin the process to rebuild Parkcrest Elementary School and to work with educators, staff, and stakeholders to realize a vision suited to the Kamloops-Thompson School District and the Brocklehurst neighbourhood.
“This will be more than a school, it also supports a revitalized and expanding neighbourhood,” Dyck said. “Through our experience, at Valleyview, and throughout the province, we have developed cutting-edge design practices in educational facilities and are keen to explore a design solution that is perfect for Parkcrest.”
The Parkcrest rebuild, announced Jan. 25, 2021, will be a new, expanded and energy efficient school which will include capacity for more students, a neighbourhood learning centre and a larger gymnasium. Construction is set to begin in summer 2022 and the school is expected to open by spring 2024. It will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards that will help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while improving the school’s annual energy costs.
The Government of B.C. is investing $34.84 million to rebuild the former 390-seat school Kindergarten to Grade 6 school and expand its capacity to 510 students in anticipation of the growth in Brocklehurst.
The District is investing $300,000 towards the expansion, while the City of Kamloops has committed up to $2.5 million for the additional space required for a larger gymnasium and changeroom facilities for community sporting events.
The funding provides an opportunity to create space promoting strong school-community partnerships, using school facilities to meet the needs of children, youth, families and the Brocklehurst neighbourhood.
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