Crosstown Elementary - VSB's new school in downtown Vancouver - has officially opened.

The unique $19.4 million school, which is built on top of a parkade, provides a 21st century learning environment for students thanks to its collaborative and open learning spaces. Located next to Andy Livingstone Park and Rogers Arena, the 4,500-square-metre building includes a Neighbourhood Learning Centre and two multipurpose rooms. 

Crosstown students will use the community playground and field next to the school, while the top two floors of the four-storey building include outdoor learning spaces with views across Vancouver to the mountains beyond.

The first students moved into Crosstown after Spring Break and student numbers will keep growing until the school reaches its capacity of 510 students.

Celebrations to mark the opening included a performance by the Crosstown Elementary choir and speeches by VSB Official Trustee Dianne Turner, Vancouver -False Creek MLA Sam Sullivan, Crosstown principal Bruce Murton, and Leanne Hindle, the school's Parent Advisory Council chairperson. The guests also toured the school.

"It's exciting to see Crosstown Elementary now open with the first group of students starting in this brand new school this week," said Turner.

"The downtown core has a growing population of families and this state-of-the-art school will provide much needed spaces for this community. This new school design is a wonderful example of Vancouver's innovation in incorporating schools into an urban setting."

The Province contributed $15.4 million towards the project and the VSB provided about $3.5 million. The City of Vancouver contributed $760,000 to build the second multipurpose room for out of school care and community use.

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