SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 73
Valleyview Secondary School Expansion Plans Revealed

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Staff and some students at Valleyview Secondary were shown the initial version of the expansion plans for their school Nov. 27.

CHP Architects, the firm designing the expansion, unveiled renderings of the design concept, a video and a virtual walk-through of the upcoming $34.5 million project.

The design was presented first to staff and students for their feedback, following a consultation session in June.

"We have been able to incorporate about 75 per cent of the requests that were made during that consultation session," said Art McDonald, SD73 Facilities and Maintenance Director. "I think you're going to like this design. It's very exciting."

The project will add 20 classrooms, a new gymnasium, multi-purpose areas and innovative education spaces. It will also have dedicated wall space projectors, gender neutral private washrooms and changerooms, and learning and gathering areas both inside and outside the building.

"I am so pleased to see the concept incorporates healthy and inclusive spaces for our kids," said Barb Hamblett, VSS principal. "As educators, we know how important it is to have multiple gathering places for kids as well as change rooms and washrooms that reflect society's current values."

There are currently more than 900 students at VSS, which has a capacity for 625 students. This expansion means room for all the students in the school and the removal of the 10 portables on the site by the time the project is complete. This addition will be built to LEED Gold standards, and it will bring the school's capacity from 675 to 1,200 students.

"This school is cutting edge. It incorporates best practices in school design," said CHP partner and project manager Justin Dyck. "Instead of individual classrooms that open onto a hallway there are learning pods with space for learning assistance help rooms, and more collaboration space."

The video was shown to a round of applause. (It's posted below)

 "It will warm up our culture so much. Right now, it's rough. But this is going to make the school so much better," said Jessica Orr, a grade 11 student. "It will feel so much more relaxed, with seating areas, the mood will be so much brighter."

"It will be nice to have a sense of our school as a place that has these great things," said McKenna Reeves, a grade 11 student. "Instead of visiting other schools and saying, oh look, they have a cafeteria, we are going to be able to say that we have one, too."

The reveal was at the 60 per cent design stage of the project. With final details such as colour, finishes and specific determination of all space, McDonald cautioned that what was being shown was a concept, and some details were likely to change.

CHP expects site preparation to begin in early 2020, with completion set for September 2022. Phase one will include a renovation to the athletics field along Oriole Road and preparing the approach to the addition and expanding the parking area along Valleyview Drive.

"This is going to be so great for the students here," said Mackenzie Pittenger, a grade 11 student.  "I'm sad I won't be here to enjoy it, but I am happy for all the students who will."

The Ministry of Education announced the expansion of VVS on April 12, and on May 23 the CHP Architects was announced as the architect for the project.

SD73 is contributing $1.75 million towards the $34.45 million project.