Construction will start soon on rebuilding Banting middle school, after School District 43 awarded the $18.8-million project to Yellowridge Construction Ltd.
The replacement school will meet LEED (Leadership in Environmental Design) Gold standards for water management and efficiency, energy efficiency, reuse of building materials and natural light and ventilation. A video rendering shows a two-storey building with a large open hallway at the front entrance.
In addition, there will be 19 general instruction classrooms plus additional classrooms for music and healthy living, plus a technical education shop, a gym, combined library and computer space, a multi-purpose room, and special education spaces. It is being built for 550 students.
The cost of the seismic replacement project is $22.5 million and will include a Neighbourhood Learning Centre. After construction is complete, the original school, built in 1963, will be torn down.
LEIGH PROPERTY
SD43 has agreed to negotiate with the city of Coquitlam for a deal to hand over a strip of land along the south and east sides of Leigh elementary school. The city needs the land to make road, sidewalk and lighting improvements on Victoria Drive, considered a benefit by members of the public who provided feedback. Hazardous trees will also be removed and replaced with healthy trees to make the school play area safer.
