The Limestone District School Board is ready to proceed to tender for construction of the new Kingston intermediate and secondary school following Ministry approval of the design and cost consulting phase.
Over the past few months, the Limestone District School Board has been working with our architects and a specialized engineering/cost consulting firm to review detailed design drawings for the new school.
This phase allows the Board and the consultants to prepare a project cost estimate for approval by the Ministry of Education before the projects goes to tender for construction. As part of this process, the consulting firm estimated that project cost would exceed the $36 million provided by the Ministry. The firm identified design items that could lead to cost efficiencies without compromising programming space for students.
The majority of items remain unchanged, however, some revisions include:
- Squared off shape of the library – the size of the library is unchanged.
- Three-storey open entry way has been changed to a two-storey open design to optimize space.
- Upper roof skylight has been removed as a result of entry way change.
- Three classroom from the first floor have been moved to the former open space on the third floor (no change in size of the rooms).
- Roof-top terrace on second floor (Module Vanier students) has been removed – students will have access to other multi-use spaces including adjacent Champlain Park thanks to Board partnership with City of Kingston.
- Relocated mechanical rooms from interior footprint to the roof to optimize space.
While the Board understand some of these changes may come as a surprise, it was essential that we maintain core programming areas to support all student pathways. Not all areas that sit outside the Ministry funding model could be incorporated.
The revised design will still accommodate 1,340 students (240 intermediate students and 1,100 secondary students), and will include English programs in university, college and workplace pathways, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, and intermediate and secondary extended French and French Immersion (Module Vanier). The make up for the 34 secondary classrooms and 9 intermediate classrooms remains unchanged.
These rooms include:
- 8 Science Labs (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General)
- 2 Music Rooms (Instrumental/Vocal)
- 3 Art Rooms (Graphic/Visual/Photography)
- 1 Theatre Arts Room
- 4 Technology Shops (Construction, Manufacturing/Transportation, Integrated and Computer Engineering Lab)
- Culinary Arts and Nutrition Rooms
- Communication Lab with Radio program
- Cosmetology Room
- 4 Special Education Rooms
- 2 Gymnasiums with Health Science and Weight Rooms
- Library with Community Room and Book Kiosk
The Board plans to issue a tender for a general contractor in April and award the contract in late May or early June 2017. It is estimated that construction would begin in summer 2017 and could be completed within two years. The new school is now expected to be open for the 2019-2020 school year.
For more information, please contact:
Karen Smith, Communications Officer
613.544.6920 ext. 314 | 613.328.0947 mobile
613.544.6920 ext. 311 | 613.328.0916 mobile