Engagement Session – May 9, 2025

Introduction

The Vancouver School Board (VSB) is in the detailed planning stages for a new school on the Lord Roberts Annex site. This will replace the existing school, add enrolment capacity to the downtown catchments and create a modern and inclusive learning environment.

In the spring, VSB staff hosted an engagement session with educational leaders, operational staff and external partners to gather input that will guide key decisions ahead of finalizing detailed plans and submitting a development permit application to the City of Vancouver.

About This Report

This document summarizes key ideas and considerations raised during the May 9, 2025, engagement session. It reflects the perspectives shared by participants and highlights opportunities and challenges they raised. The feedback gathered is organized thematically and does not represent an assessment of feasibility or technical merit. Rather, it is intended to support design development and planning decisions.

Engagement Overview

The May 9, 2025, engagement session took place at VSB's Education Centre and brought together 34 participants from across the District and McFarland Marceau Architects (MMA). Participants represented a range of operational, educational and planning functions.

To ensure balanced and comprehensive input, the workshop brought together a diverse cross-section of VSB educational and operational staff. Participants were divided into two groups, each representing a cross range of roles including educational leadership, instructional services, facilities and operations. These included associate superintendents, directors of instruction and district principals, as well as school-based leaders from the catchment area. Operational perspectives were provided by senior managers and supervisors from maintenance, construction, sustainability, food services, health and safety and rentals, along with facilities and finance staff. Each group engaged in facilitated, site-specific discussions to surface design priorities from both educational and operational perspectives. This ensured that the resulting insights were grounded in both strategic vision and practical implementation. VSB project staff, architects and BC Hydro representatives were also in attendance.

Engagement Methodology

The session was structured as a facilitated workshop using schematic design templates provided by McFarland Marceau Architects (MMA). Participants reviewed key site and building features with support of two facilitators and note-takers. Architects were on hand to introduce the visuals and address technical questions.

Each group worked through a consistent set of prompts, supported by printed feedback sheets for written input. The discussion themes included:

• Exterior layout and function: play areas, stage, fencing, ramps, supervision
• Circulation and access: pick-up/drop-off, vehicle access, parking, service areas
• Architectural features: above ground BC Hydro structures, gathering space, wall treatments, overhangs
• Interior organization: kindergarten and library locations, classroom layout, lobby, neighbourhood learning centre (NLC) access
• Roof use and sustainability: green roofs, solar panels, rainwater collection, child care potential

Participants contributed through group conversation and written notes. This combination ensured comprehensive feedback across operational, educational and community-use considerations.

What We Heard – Key Themes

Site Layout and Functional Use of Space

• Strong support for a functional and adaptable ground-level play area
• Opportunities to expand the basketball court and add hoops, though this may require relocating planter beds and removing some trees
• Existing basketball court location is generally suitable
• Planter gardens and stage seeding areas are valued for outdoor learning
• Need for accessible outbuilding and emergency shed storage (for school-use only)
• Preference for higher fencing around ball fields (e.g., 10 ft), with minimal interior fencing
• Gated access (with locks or chains) is important for managing high-traffic areas
• Stairs should double as educational or social spaces, allowing for outdoor furniture

Circulation and Drop-off Zones

• Nelson Street remains the preferred pick-up/drop-off location and primary entrance
• Other access points (Bute Street and Nelson Park) offer flexibility but require supervision planning
• 25 underground parking stalls are planned, including accessible spaces and other designated reserved spots
• Parkade entry will be gated and could become a public pay parking facility
• Wayfinding signage is critical, especially where bike and vehicle paths intersect
• A dedicated staff bike cage is preferred over cyclists needing to share parkade access ramps

Community Entrance and Gathering Areas

• The school's main entrance should double as a welcoming gathering space with clear sightlines
• Incorporation of surface structures such as planter boxes and outdoor learning features was supported
• Participants suggested incorporation of Indigenous features, green walls, sensory walls, murals and other community-reflective treatments
• Covered zones under building overhangs are important for year-round outdoor activity
• The area near Bute Street should support adjacent NLC programming

Interior Learning and Shared Spaces

• The library is preferred on the second floor for future rental and programming flexibility
• Classrooms should be uniform in size and have exterior walls to maximize natural light
• Kindergarten classrooms should be located on the second floor to allow for more outside play space
• Accessible washrooms should be located near water fixture banks across all floors
• Noise mitigation is a concern with suggestions to avoid echo-prone noise tunnels in stairwells or lobbies
• Kitchen facilities were suggested in multipurpose rooms to support food-related programming
• The NLC kitchen should serve both before- and after-school care and broader school use
• Furniture design planning that supports users' needs was suggested for storage rooms
• Sinks should be located in shared/common areas rather than inside classrooms

Roof Space and Sustainability

The roof could function as a learning environment and sustainability feature, including:

• Green roof
• Solar panels and photovoltaic (PV) panels
• Rainwater collection systems for educational use

A central skylight will bring daylight into the stair/elevator core.

Safety, Supervision and Materials

• Preference for wood interiors for warmth and sustainability; hybrid and steel are possibilities
• Emergency preparedness concerns include the need for:
  • Curtains or coverings for transparent glass walls
  • Lockdown-friendly visibility planning
• Office areas should be located on the ground floor for improved supervision
• Picnic tables near office zones are discouraged

Engagement Summary

The engagement session brought together 34 representatives across VSB departments and external partners to collaboratively explore design priorities for a future new school at the Lord Roberts Annex site. Their diverse insights will help ensure the new school is aligned with educational and operational needs.

This session surfaced important considerations across design, sustainability and educational programming. The feedback gathered reflects a shared commitment to building a flexible, inclusive and future-ready learning environment. These insights will directly inform the next stage of design development.

Next Steps

Feedback gathered during this session will be considered alongside technical and design requirements to advance plans for a new school. Future engagement sessions will share updated designs and provide additional opportunities for input.