VSB Releases Comprehensive Assessment of all Schools with Significant Seismic Risk

Vancouver, BC (October 5, 2011) – Last night the Planning and Facilities Committee of the Vancouver Board of Education received a preliminary draft report from Coriolos Consulting outlining the current seismic risks facing many of the district’s oldest schools. The assessment detailed three options for each school and provided preliminary estimated costs required to seismically upgrade, renovate and/or replace 48 aging schools.

“I want to thank our consultants at Coriolis Consulting for providing us with an excellent high level picture of what still needs to be undertaken to make our schools safe,” said Patti Bacchus, Chair of the Vancouver Board of Education. “Moving forward it is clear there is still a great deal that needs to be done.”

The VSB is currently working on three submissions to the Ministry of Education for capital projects at Strathcona Elementary, Gordon Elementary and Queen Mary Elementary. Kitsilano Secondary has already submitted to the Ministry and is awaiting approval to proceed. Once completed, the Board will have seismically upgraded or replaced 34 schools.

According to the Comprehensive Assessment, 48 schools still have structures that are H1 or H2. These designations mean the school’s structure is vulnerable and at high risk to widespread damage or structural failure. It also means that the buildings will likely not be able to function as shelters or be salvageable should a significant seismic event occur.

The assessment took into account seven technical inputs including structural seismic analysis, facility condition, non-structural seismic analysis, green building upgrades, educational adequacy, heritage significance and replacement school size. Of the 48 schools reviewed, 36 schools received high educational adequacy assessments suggesting that the majority of VSB’s older schools have suitable facilities for modern pedagogical approaches. Of those surveyed, 19 schools had very high heritage ratings (10 out of 10 architectural significance according to a 2007 Commonwealth Historic Management Report). But many of the schools also had significant deferred maintenance problems with at least 27 schools having at least one building rated in poor condition with significant deficiencies compared to modern building practices.

“This report identifies a number of issues that will need to be addressed during the preparation of any future seismic plans including heritage protection, sustainability of buildings after a significant event and the inclusion of required facility maintenance upgrades,” said Allan Wong, Chair of the VSB’s Planning and Facilities Committee. “It’s clear there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding how best to make our schools seismically safe. With this document, we’re far better equipped to make these important decisions.”

To mitigate seismic danger, the assessment outlines three options for consideration including retention with seismic rehabilitation, retention with seismic rehabilitation plus maintenance of major building deficiencies and the replacement of the school.  

According to the assessment, the total cost of seismic-only upgrades would be an estimated $618 million. Should the district’s schools be fully upgraded, the cost could run up to nearly $1.1 billion. The total cost of replacing all seismically at-risk schools would be $858 million. These costs are preliminary and will be refined in the future with each capital project.

After receiving the report, the Board requested VSB staff develop a process to create a plan for the remaining work to be done in consultation with the Ministry of Education and other local stakeholders.