Lord Kitchener Elementary

Update 1

Open House - June 23, 2010  4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to come to the Open House on June 23. The purpose of the Open House was to:

• To introduce the Learning Communities Concept and related school design patterns;

• Provide the concept plan for the replacement school based on learning communities;

• Receive your feedback on the updated concepts

Open House Boards

• Welcome
• Background
• Site Plans
• 21st Century Learning and School Design
• Design Patterns for the 21st Century
• From Classrooms to Learning Communities
• Ground Floor Plan and Furniture
• Artistic Impression
• Second Floor Plan and Furniture (a) and (b)
• Seismic Mitigation Process
• Phasing
• Consultation and Planning Principles

Open House Feedback

All feedback forms and suggestions were reviewed and are summarized in the following linkOpen House Feedback Form Summary

Update 2

21^st Century School Design for Kitchener Elementary School

A series of school staff workshops and meetings were held recently to focus on the educational goals and directions for the replacement of Kitchener Elementary School. The process began with a district-wide workshop on Feb. 4. The workshop, Learning in the Creative Age, was introduced by Superintendent Steve Cardwell, and conducted by Prakash Nair and Randall Fielding of Fielding Nair International (FNI). Collectively, they challenged participants to imagine new ways to connect the best practices and ideas in education with current school design concepts.

This introductory workshop was followed by school meetings with teachers, staff and some parent representatives to consider how the FNI presentation on learning communities fit with the notion of teaching and learning in the 21st Century. At Kitchener and Douglas Schools staff expressed both their passionate concerns for students and their willingness to explore a new school design based on communities of learners rather than on a traditional layout of typical classrooms.

In support of this interest and willingness to explore design patterns used in the learning communities concept, Fielding and Nair have partnered with the local project architects to collaborate on the school design. During March, April and May, VSB planning will continue its discussions with school staff and parents and will conduct a series of online and onsite workshops.

Update 3

• Provide an overview of the project and consultation to date;
• Present the preferred location for the upgraded 1914 frame building;
• Present the preferred siting option for the replacement school;
• Introduce 21st Century Learning and School Design Principles;
• Confirm the proposed space program for the replacement Kitchener Elementary School; and 
• Receive public feedback.

Open House Boards:

• Seismic Mitigation Project Process and Timeline
• VSB 21st Century Learning and School Design
• Space Analysis Diagram - Existing vs. New Program Areas
• Proposed preferred location for the upgraded 1914 frame building and siting option for the replacement school

Open House Feedback:

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the feedback forms and gave thoughtful suggestions and comments. All feedback forms and suggestions were reviewed and are summarized in the following report: Open House Feedback Form Results.

Concerns identified in the Open House will be considered as we move forward in design development. Design considerations must meet educational requirements and City building bylaw requirements which may preclude the ability to incorporate suggestions as received. Other concerns such as traffic will be addressed in a traffic management plan; tree protection will be noted in a detailed landscape plan; construction noise must comply to the City noise bylaw. These documents will form the part of development permit submission to the City of Vancouver.

As part of the City of Vancouver’s development permit application process, the City will be hosting a separate Open House for local community input.

Lord Kitchener Elementary Renewal Project Newsletter  (Feb. 2010)