What's Happening?

The Consultant Team, led by CitySpace Consulting are preparing draft school design concepts which will be considered by the Kitsilano School Planning Team.

For more information contact Elizabeth FitzZaland, Tel: 604-687-2281 ext.226, E-mail: Kits@cityspaces.ca. Follow this link to the CitySpaces website.

 

Renewing Kits Secondary

Kitsilano Secondary School (Kits) has embarked on a concept design planning process to create a renewed and seismically safe school. Developing this plan is a high priority for the Vancouver School Board (VSB) during the 2009/10 school year.

The process will result in the completion of a Concept Design Plan and submission of a Capital Project Agreement to the BC Ministry of Education in June 2010 to fund detailed designs and construction.

The aim is to create a student-focused learning environment for the 21^st century, and to identify ways to expand the school into a Neighbourhood Learning Centre through the inclusion of community uses.

 

Overview of Kits School

With current enrolment at around 1,500, the facility also includes a mini school (a student enrichment program) and a French Immersion program.

While the building has numerous components and additions, it is the main 1927 heritage block that continues to be an iconic part of the Kitsilano neighbourhood. Designed in the "Tudor Revival" style, this block is included, along with a later addition, on the Vancouver Heritage Registry.

Recent analysis has revealed that almost the entire school has a high seismic safety risk and that it deficient in structural requirements relative to the Vancouver Building Bylaw. Other deficiencies include an inadequate physical layout, the absence of a sprinkler system, and outdated electrical and mechanical systems. In addition, some of the existing building materials contain hazardous materials, such as asbestos.

Read Kitsilano Secondary School Renewal Plan (pdf)

 

What is the Project Charter?

The Project Charter is a project management document that identifies how the Vancouver School Board (VSB) and consultants CitySpaces Consulting Ltd. will work together to meet the project objectives, critical success factors, address potential issues or constraints, and bring the project components together in a Draft Capital Project Agreement.

Click here for the Project Charter (pdf)

 

What's a Neighbourhood Learning Centre?

Neighbourhood Learning Centres are an initiative of the Provincial Seismic Mitigation Program that brings schools and local community services together into single neighbourhood hubs.

Opportunities for including community services in a renewed Kits will be explored through this planning process. Obvious opportunities for greater collaboration already exist with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the Kitisilano Community Centre.