A Message from Mr. Steve Garland

I sometimes view the construction of the new school as both a blessing and a curse...

To be involved to the level that we have in the design of our new teaching and learning environment is beyond anything I ever imagined. Like many of you, I too had heard of stories of cookie cutter building designs where staff, students, and the community had little to no involvement in the planning and design phase of their new school. That always seemed odd to me considering that we are the end users and could - if involved - help create a better 'widget". We are certainly blessed in that the architects that we are working with have tried to create the model teaching and learning environment - they have consulted with staff, students, parents, and other specialists... designed.. consulted again and again... and have re-designed again and again. We have looked at other schools and incorporated the design elements we liked... and we have headed the advice of others by trying to avoid some of the design features that seemed like a "good idea" at the time.

The school that Mark Mathiasen, Carson Gertz, and Mohan Krishna (as well as the other team members at GHMArchitects) have designed for us is truly reflective of the input and suggestions made by our school community during the 12-14 month Design Phase we went through. As one of my colleague's has said... "If we get anything close to what we have on paper... we are in for a real treat." I am both hopeful and quite confident that we will get everything that we had imagined...and more. I am already incredibly impressed with the work of our General Contractor, ITC Construction. They too have a great deal at stake in the project as School Construction is an area their company is trying to branch into - they our hoping that our school will enable them to become a force in this area also. They are already major player in the Vancouver construction market and we are doubly blessed to have them building our school.

However... there are times when I wonder if we have thought of "everything". An impossibility... I know... But herein lies the curse that Doug Green, the former principal at Sutherland, warned be about when he knew I would be overseeing the project... Even though we have gone over plans 10-15-20 times.. sometimes what is obvious in the end isn't always obvious at the time. I can only hope and pray that we have most of it covered. The next 15-20 months or so will be the test. Phase One of the project, the construction of the new school, is on target to be completed by March of 2012. Phase Two - the demolition the remaining academic wing and the landscaping - is to be completed by July 2012.

Until then... enjoy!
Steve Garland