New School Progress, Sept 12, 2009

The UHill PAC exec. were shown Version 28 of the floor plans, elevations and site drawings late last week by Alex Grant (VSB) and Mark Pearmain (UHS Principal). Pretty exciting, for many reasons.

Design process and community involvement:

1. The University Hill Secondary experience will (to some extent) set precedent for how BC plans and designs schools during the next few decades.
   
2. All opportunities to contribute with community partners are being pursued, resulting in several segments of the building that will be usable (ie secure) out of normal school hours. Examples include sports and recreation space, performance space, and perhaps some classroom & crafts or arts space. Such ideas are still being considered.
3. (I believe they said that ) the building will meet LEED® Gold certification for environmental impact and efficiency (see Canada Green Building Council to learn about LEED).
4. All stake holders (VSB, school staff, students, parents and community) are being given opportunities to see, comment on, and suggest changes or additions to the plans. This started in spring 2009. SEE "PARTICIPATE" BELOW!
   

Innovative and versatile learning spaces:

1. Learning spaces will be arranged in clusters with subject and / or grade themes, including significant open "project" or "lightly-supervised" communal learning areas (learning commons).
   
2. There will also be many more small spaces for meetings, team work, breakout groups, etc.
   
3. Classrooms will see reduced "ownership" by teachers, but there will be much more separate preparation space for all staff.
4. Modern design facilities will include well-connected art, computing, technical, and musical spaces and facilities.
5. A versatile staging facility that couples with adjustable multi-use space is being designed.
6. The whole school will be 100% internet connected, both wired and wireless.
   

Look and feel of the new High School:

1. Some areas have huge stairways which will serve as meeting, socializing and learning spaces.
2. Atriums, skylights, and large areas of windows will result in very open, well-lit spaces.
3. Many of the 2-story and atrium-like zones can be "dressed up" for graduation, community use, etc.
   
4. There is potential for an outside deck opening off the second floor onto the roof of the first floor, with potential for gardens, outdoor social and learning space, solar facilities, and other "dreams" or ideas that might arise.
5. Classrooms will be much more visible. While doors can be closed, glass walls onto hallways result in more visual connectivity between learning and public spaces.
6. Some class rooms have partially circular walls, making some innovative types of spaces possible. Ideas are still being tossed around.
   

Some questions that have been raised about the school.
Not all questions can be answered easily, and some are related to community development rather than design of the school itself. However, these are questions that participants have already raised.

1. Traffic: crossing 16th ave. for pedestrians is currently dangerous at best. How will it be made safer for kids coming to school from North of 16th Ave.?
2. Are there potential problems with fume hoods (science or food classes) near a possible roof deck?
3. How can the East end be turned into a useful (or at least attractive) feature? Currently (version 28) it is a blank wall, likely to attract paint tagging and other types of vandalism.
4. How will "phasing in" or moving take place? Will grade 8's be left behind at the time of the move, or will there be at least one year with grade 8s in the new school while the Acadia site construction is completed?
5. How much disruption (reduced sports, noise, safety and so on) will there be at the current school when construction starts there for the new elementary and middle schools? When will that construction start?
6. Where in the new school will kids have locker space?
7. How will bicycle use be encouraged? Will there be covered bike locking space? Will cyclists have extra locker room for wet cloths? These are crucial for consistent encouragement of healthy commuting options.
8. Is there enough storage space in the plans for sports equipment, theater and music facilities, etc.?
9. Does cooperation with community partners compromise purely educational aspects of the school and facilities?
10. Are "innovative" ideas based on precedent experienced elsewhere, or are they good ideas based on conjecture and anticipated benefits?
11. Other questions or suggestions? - comment using links below.
    

Participate in the Process:
You will all have ideas, concerns or suggestions. THEREFORE ....

• Come to meetings announced by school emails and handouts (check your kid's bags!)
• Leave comments to postings on this blog - WE WILL FORWARD TO THE TEAM.
• We will post links to plans as soon as we have somewhere to put them.
  

Current projected time line: occupancy - Nov 2011 or Jan 2012. Fully transferred Sept 2012.

PLEASE POST COMMENTS! Thank you, your PAC exec.