Sketch plans for prefabricated additions at two Surrey elementary schools have been revealed.
At the regular school board meeting on Feb. 12, trustees watched two presentations by Station One Architects' lead architect for the project, Justin Dyck, on planned prefabricated additions for Martha Currie and William Watson elementary schools.
Prefabricated additions are a relatively new approach the B.C. Ministry of Education has been taking in providing overcrowded schools with new spaces that are built quicker than traditional additions but provide more than portable classrooms. The prefabs are typically built off-site, then brought in, and are often not connected to the existing school.
One exception to that is the Fleetwood area's William Watson Elementary, which is receiving a two-storey addition.
"We have managed to get more than just the six classrooms within our budget. So all you’re funded for is those six classrooms, two stairs and the ... circulation," Dyck said.
"We are doing the best in the envelope to not just provide the bare minimum of classrooms but also get those ancillary spaces that wouldn’t otherwise be funded."
The school's prefabricated addition will be attached to the existing site through a walkway and will also have inclusive education rooms, staff rooms, an elevator between floors and gender-inclusive washrooms.
"I’m really happy about the fact that it is joined to the main school," said trustee Terry Allen.
"That has been an issue for us on the modulars, and nobody’s going to tell me or sell me that they are or act as though they are part of the regular school. This is the opposite, and this works remarkably well for us."
Meanwhile, a prefab at Cloverdale's Martha Currie Elementary will provide six classrooms in one storey, a printer/copy room, an inclusive education room and staff spaces.
When asked by trustee Garry Thind about the potential impact of the proposed tariffs on Canada by the U.S., capital projects executive director Dave Riley said this will remain to be seen.
"One of the good things about this design is it’s predominantly wood, and wood is locally sourced, and the amount of steel and aluminum, there is some in the building but not as bad as it would be if it were a steel-frame building," Riley said.
Both projects are slated to undergo nine months of construction time and be ready by April 2026.
