Representatives from whwarchitects were unaware of the controversy prior to their arrival and proceeded with their presentation in front of sparsely populated chairs and the placard holding group on the bleachers.
The 110,000 square foot, two-storey school on Forest Street near Wesleyan Church will feature soccer fields, two academic wings with a courtyard space between, and a basketball court in the centre of a bus loop at the front of the school.
A student parking lot is planned for the west side of Broad Brook with a sidewalk on Forest Street connecting to the school.
Lead design architect Craig Mosher explained that the facility is largely organized around what he referred to as a cafetorium.
“It includes a cafeteria, a raised drama room stage and a gymnasium,” he said.
A connecting “street” (wide hall) ties all of the spaces together. Visual arts, comtech, tech innovation, biology/chem/physics labs, an art room, and tech production areas are included in the design plan.
A studio room for silk screening, print making, digital photography will be built in conjunction with the art room.
There are 29 classrooms in total, each capable of seating 35 students. The estimated population of the school is 950.
The school will be the first in the province to target (LEED) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold. One of the architectural elements is increased usage of natural daylight for illumination. A wood pellet burner system is planned for the school. Energy savings of $50,000 in operating costs are anticipated with the adoption of LEED recommendations.
A two-storey high atrium space runs through the length of the school. Grass will be grown on sections of the roof.
Nooks outside of the library create secluded reading areas. Recessed areas in the walls enable the placement of student art to create galleries.
It should be kind of a dynamic, interesting experience. - Lead design architect Craig Mosher speaking of design elements associated with the new high school.
Clear storey lighting will alternate with coloured panes to project colour onto the gym wall and roof trusses are bowed to resemble ship’s ribs.
“It should be kind of a dynamic, interesting experience,” said Mosher.
Classrooms include a smaller workroom shared with another classroom.
Some of the questions posed by audience members at the unveiling expressed concern about the lack of sidewalks for students walking to school, no fencing around the basketball court in the middle of the bus loop, the height of the railing on the second floor of the atrium, and the lack of fencing between school property and residences located on the north side.
Construction is expected to be completed by January 2012.
For more school plans, visit http://sharepoint.tcrsb.ca/ycmhs/webpage/default.aspx
