École John Stubbs Memorial School

by Laurie Jones

It is not often that serendipity plays a role in creating a building ? that is, what started as one vision becomes something different, and better than the original. This, however, is the case for the

École John Stubbs Memorial School

. Located in the district of Sooke, outside of Victoria, B.C. on land leased from the Department of National Defense (DND), the dual track, English/French Immersion school needed replacing. What originally was a structure for military training 50 years ago became an education centre for children on the base. It became a general elementary school when it was transferred to Sooke School District #62. ?Originally, the school district had hired consultants to update the old elementary school and an annex,? says Shiv Garyali, principal of Garyali Architect Inc. ?The Ministry of Education had approved a plan to add on to these existing buildings to create a larger elementary, plus a new middle school. Once we were hired, we looked at the plans and changed the whole direction of the project. Our fi rst recommendation was to demolish the old buildings and build the complex that now exists, although there were several steps to reach the fi nal draft.? Garyali says the new design, which essentially encompassed two schools on one site, created the need for more play space, such as the two sports fi elds in addition to the educational facilities. ?This was achieved by sharing the spaces between the two schools, including the library, music room and the gymnasium. This plan was the key for approval by the Ministry to go ahead with the new plans.? The ?C? confi guration has administration in the middle, elementary classes on one side and middle school classes on the other. ?It is a hybrid school with the K-9 mix, which is rare in North America,? says Glenn Whiteley, project manager for the Sooke school district. ?We are going to explore some great educational opportunities where the young kids can have access to the specialized spaces like shop, computer labs and other classes that they would not normally get in an elementary school. There will also be many leadership opportunities for the middle grade students in working with, and supporting, the younger students.? The project was developed with educators through series of workshops, plus input from parents and neighbours. ?The school is also surrounded by DND property so when we were designing the exterior look of the building, we had to take the types of houses and other structures that are currently in the area into consideration,? says Garyali. ?One challenge in the design was dealing with the ever-increasing cost of construction. We had to ensure Island contractors had an opportunity to bid the project, while at the same time creating a design with the required technology that is easy to build. The result was a very basic structural and affordable design for a two-storey, wood frame construction that included acoustic dampening of noise from the second fl oor.? This state-of-the-art facility offers features such as being 54 per cent below the model energy code for energy consumption and occupancy sensors for the lights and light sensors in a number of areas that include skylights. ?It is BOB MATHESON PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY GARYALI ARCHITECT LTD. healthy for teachers and students to be working in natural light rather than fl uorescent lighting,? says Garyali. In addition, the T5 indirect lighting will reduce glare. ?The technology incorporated is outstanding,? says Whiteley. ?Every classroom has fl at screen televisions with cable-supplied feed. Wire gutters are installed in the ground fl oor for computer data transfer so the communication wiring is fl exible for future changes.? Surveillance cameras are in place for evening property analyses. An air-to-water heat pump system is in place for basic heating and cooling, as well as the domestic water heating system, which also reduces gas emissions. The project was designed to minimum LEED Silver standards, although certifi cation was not pursued by School District #62 due to funding constraints. The mechanical systems are all computerized and can be monitored off site, the fl ooring is all organic marmoleum and formaldehyde-free millwork, and in accordance with LEED requirements and the contract, materials were recycled wherever possible. Over the course of construction, Mother Nature played havoc with the process. ?The weather was challenging because in the fi rst year we were dealing with the storms that also blew down Stanley Park,? says Russ Walker, project manager with W. R. Knight Contracting Ltd. ?Between losing power, snow storms and constant rain that required multiple fans to keep air fl ow going to dry the wood frame, we were battling the elements. We built a temporary roof to keep the process going within the school. The building was monitored regularly by Chatwin Engineering for moisture content before we could do the insulation.? Landscape consultant Jim Partlow, principal of the Lombard North Group, used trees to create an array of natural esthetics. ?One benefi t of the restructuring meant the old school that was removed was on a relatively fl at level,? says Partlow. ?This part of the land is now home to the two regulation-size LOCATION 301 Zealous Crescent Colwood, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Sooke School District #62 ARCHITECT Garyali Architect Inc. GENERAL CONTRACTOR W. R. Knight Contracting Ltd. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Hirschfi eld Williams Timmins Ltd. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT AES ? Applied Engineering Solutions Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Lombard North Group BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT Chatwin Engineering Ltd. ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT Daniel Lyzun & Associates CIVIL CONSULTANT Westbrook Consulting Ltd. TOTAL AREA 75,966 square feet TOTAL COST $23.6 million sports fi elds. We introduced Red Leaf oak trees for separation of the greens and shade for relief from the sun.? The new school will eventually hold 850 children, with a blend of kindergarten, elementary and middle school grades. ?The school is a work in progress with regard to the grades being taught, although some children have been there since January,? says Whiteley. In September, the school will enroll students up to and including grade 8. By September 2009, it will include grade 9. The offi cial opening will be in November of 2008. ?It was a great co-operative team effort from all levels, including our contractor, architect and several consultants,? says Whiteley. ?We have a 50-year lease signed and are looking forward to seeing the school fully operational.? ? OCTOBER 2008 77

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