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Exterior stonework |
Replaned fir beams |
October 25, 2011
Several distinct elements of form and function can now be seen from the sidewalk as the new Education Services Centre and Artists for Kids Gallery take shape. The exterior stonework features granite from Hardy Island on the Sunshine Coast—also the original stone for the school. Reclaimed granite from the former Lonsdale school will be used on the site for landscape elements.
The fir floor joists in the former school have also been replaned and repurposed. They will be installed as beams forming the main structural element of the front canopy.
The exterior work remains on schedule toward its expected completion in January of 2012. The focus will then shift to completion of the building interior.
The enhancements to Rey Sargent Park being constructed by the School District through a community amenity grant are now underway. The new sidewalk around the perimeter of Rey Sargent Park is now finished and construction of the storm water retention and bioswale is proceeding on schedule. As part of the enhancements, a creative play area for children has been designed with input from the City of North Vancouver.
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Entrance as photographed on October 24, 2011 |
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July 14, 2011
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Progess on the main entrance to both the Gallery and Education Services Centre as photographed on July 11, 2011. The Anderson Walk residences by Polygon are seen in the background. |
The main entrance viewed on July 11, 2011 from beneath the chestnut trees bordering Lonsdale. |
Progress continues on the Lonsdale ESC and Artists for Kids Gallery. The exterior shell of the building is expected to be complete by January of 2012. Interior walls and fit-outs will be constructed through the spring of 2012. We expect to be able to begin to provide services out of the building by June of 2012. A number of committees have been established within the School District to work through details of furnishing and operating the facility and preparing for the move which will bring the staff complement from three locations together to one central site.
Designs for improvements to Rey Sargent Park have been signed off by the City of North Vancouver and construction will start in August and continue into the fall. Park features include a children’s play area, open lawn space, benches, trellis, and a heritage granite archway that was salvaged from the entrance to the former Lonsdale Elementary. The archway will be brought out of storage and reassembled to mark the connection of the park to the adjacent greenway trail. Later this fall the park will be turned over to the City of North Vancouver for further development of a public art. Sidewalks and curbs outlining the block will also be replaced and upgraded as necessary.
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January 24, 2011
The rainy weather hasn't stopped construction crews on the site of the Educational Services Centre from making excellent progress this winter. The photograph above was taken on January 24th, 2011. In the foreground, where the orange framework is most prominent, the form of the generator room is taking shape, while right behind it is the space for the stairwell--which will extend two stories below ground and five above. The concrete visible in the surrounds is the main floor slab for the AFK Gallery and lobby.
November 7, 2010
We’re pleased to share these two recent photographs that show the progress we’ve achieved since drilling the geo-thermal boreholes in September. The photo to the left depicts the P2 level concrete slab, walls and columns. The photo on the right shows formwork for the P1 level concrete slab, walls and columns as it appeared in early November.
The project continues on schedule.
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Geo-thermal drilling underway for the new Education Services Centre and Artists for Kids Gallery
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Board of Education Chairperson Franci Stratton
and City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto
check out the geo-thermal drilling rig with Randy Lamb of Sonic Drilling
on the site of the future Education Services Centre and Artists for Kids Gallery. Photo courtesy: David Nunuk/North Vancouver School District |
September 29, 2010
On September 22, 2010, City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto and Board of Education Chairperson Franci Stratton visited the site of the future Education Services Centre on Lonsdale for an upclose look at the geo-thermal drilling underway.
Thirty-seven boreholes are being drilled beneath the building to a depth of 150 feet. Next spring, even more holes will be bored on the adjoining municipal property under Rey Sargent Park to expand the project further.
So how does it work? Loops of tubing reaching the bottom of each hole will connect together into a closed water system that takes advantage of the constant temperature of the earth to facilitate cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.
Using electricity for pumps, a geo-exchange system emits much less greenhouse gas than a fuel-fired boiler, and is more energy efficient than traditional electric baseboard heating. A mini-plant and energy exchange system housed within the Education Services Centre will, depending on the season, further cool or heat the water. This water will help maintain a constant, comfortable temperature in the ESC/AFK building year-round.
“It’s an impressive undertaking,” says Board of Education Chairperson Franci Stratton. “Saving energy and reducing greenhouse gases not only aligns with our sustainability goals, it also allows us to direct more of our budget towards fulfilling our primary mandate—the education of students.”
Not only will the infrastructure create a sustainable source of heating and cooling for the School District building, it will also connect into the Lonsdale Energy Corporation, to recover and recycle additional energy for residential and commercial premises in the vicinity.
“This project will show how a district energy system can recycle the heat generated by a building cooling process to satisfy the heating needs of the community” says Mayor Darrell Mussatto. “It will also serve as a model of sustainability to other school districts, municipalities and communities throughout the Province.”
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"Anderson Walk" named after respected educator Dr. Henrietta Anderson
September 9, 2010
"Anderson Walk", the name of the new residential development planned for Central Lonsdale has some historical significance to the School District. Situated on the site of the former Lonsdale School, Polygon Homes' "Anderson Walk" is named after a respected educator and longtime principal at Lonsdale School.
Dr. Henrietta Anderson came from Scotland to Canada in 1912 and became the school's principal in 1922. In 1933 she was the first recipient of the G.A. Fergussen Memorial Award, the BCTF’s highest honour. During her time at Lonsdale Elementary School she obtained a Masters and a Ph.D. She has been described as “brilliant”, “witty” and an “inspiration” and was highly sought after as a guest speaker at school and community events. Miss Anderson remained at Lonsdale Elementary School until June 1933 when Lonsdale closed for a year to save the school board money during the worsening Great Depression.
The name “Walk” was selected to indicate the physical location of Anderson Walk, within walking distance to many North Shore amenities including schools, parks, transit, recreational services and much more. Anderson Walk will be designed in a pedestrian friendly manner to encourage the use of local pathways and trails to access the closeby central Lonsdale conveniences.
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North Vancouver School District breaks ground for new Education Services Centre and Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art
NORTH VANCOUVER, June 25, 2010—Trustees and staff of the North Vancouver School District welcomed representatives of local and provincial government, First Nations leaders and the arts community together to celebrate breaking ground on the School District’s new Education Services Centre and Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art, supporting Artists for Kids.
The $32 million construction project, scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2012, will serve the entire North Vancouver School District, with the main floor space dedicated to housing the new gallery and its collection of premier Canadian art, valued at over $2 million.
“It is as much our responsibility to protect and preserve this collection for generations to come as it is to create an accessible, welcoming space to share it with the community,” says Susan Skinner, chairperson of the North Vancouver Board of Education. “That we can bring both our education service operations together with a new cultural institution for the North Shore is a great success story.”
The highlight of the ground-breaking ceremony was the announcement of a $2 million gift from the Audain Foundation to the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation for Young Artists. The gift will be directed to support the construction of the Gallery as a cultural institution built to ensure the accessibility, security and permanent preservation of the collection.
“The Audain Foundation is proud to make this donation to the Gordon & Marion Smith Foundation for Young Artists,” says Michael Audain, chairman of the Audain Foundation. “I have been a fan of Gordon Smith’s beautiful art work for many years, but most especially his dedication to Artists for Kids. Thus we are privileged to help in the construction of this new space on Lonsdale Avenue.”
“I’m deeply honoured by this recognition,” says Gordon Smith, a founding patron of Artists for Kids and the Gallery’s new namesake. “I’ve been fortunate over the 20 years of Artists for Kids to have many opportunities to work with young people. Their interest in art is insatiable, and I am proud to be part of a program that does so much to connect and foster a greater understanding of Canadian art in young people.”
“Through the generosity of the Audain Foundation, the vision of Artists for Kids for future generations is secure,” says Bill MacDonald the director of the Artists for Kids program. “This is an unprecedented gift and a powerful endorsement that will resonate for decades.”
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The North Vancouver School District serves over 16,000 K-12 students with a vision to provide “world-class instruction and a rich diversity of engaging programs to inspire success for every student and bring communities together to learn, share and grow.”
Scheduled to open in 2012, the
Gordon Smith Gallery of Canadian Art
features a collection, valued at over $2 million dollars, of more than 500 works by some of Canada’s most prominent visual artists. The Gallery supports the work of the Artists for Kids program, by funding art education programs through the sale of prints by artists represented in the collection.
Michael Audain, Chairman of the Audain Foundation for the Visual Arts, is an avid Canadian arts supporter. He is chair of both the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada and the Vancouver Art Gallery Foundation. In recognition of his philanthropy and cultural leadership Audain has been appointed to the Order of British Columbia and was recently announced as an officer of the Order of Canada. During his long business career, Audain established Polygon Homes Ltd. as one of British Columbia's leading home builders, where he continues to serve as chairman.
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Backgrounder and Q&A
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