Hugh Boyd secondary is in line for a $10.7 million seismic upgrade and partial replacement.
The announcement for the 700-student, 47-year-old school on No. 1 and Francis roads was made Friday afternoon by B.C.’s Minister of Education Rob Fleming.
Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2019 and to be complete in fall 2020.
Students will be able to remain on site during the project. Contractors will work to minimize disruptions to the learning environment.
After construction, the school will have a capacity of 800 students.
Hugh Boyd was built in phases between 1960 and 1994, but the school's technical education wing, along with blocks 2 and 3, don’t meet the provincial seismic building requirements and are at risk of liquefaction during an earthquake.
The technical education wing will be demolished and replaced at a different location on the property. The school's south classroom wing (block 2) and Gymnasium A (block 3) will be seismically upgraded.
"Hugh Boyd is a 57-year-old school that is an important part of the community and we need to make sure students will be safer in the event of an earthquake,” said Fleming.
“We are on track to approve 50 seismic upgrades in 18 months, and I'm proud that Hugh Boyd is one of those projects."
Sherry Elwood, Richmond School District superintendent, said she was “encouraged by the government's investment in Hugh Boyd.”
While Debbie Tablotney, Richmond School Board chair, was pleased that the board’s “strong working relationship” with the government is bearing fruit.
“We are pleased that the minister has listened to our concerns and has begun to address the need for seismic upgrades and safe schools within Richmond.
“We look forward to working with the minister in addressing our seismic needs and to build on the positive progress that has been made today…"
According to the B.C. government, three of 27 high-risk schools in Richmond have had seismic upgrades completed; William Cook elementary’s seismic upgrades are proceeding to construction and the remainder of the district's high-risk schools are in the business-case development stage with the Richmond School District.
The Richmond News reporter earlier this year how district had already submitted its plan to the ministry to seismically upgrade 11 of the 25 schools in need of serious repair.
If everything is funded and on schedule, the first schools estimated to be completed in mid-2021 will be: Ferris, Tomsett, Steves, Tait and Mitchell elementary schools, as well as Hugh Boyd.
At the end of 2021, the district expects to complete: Bridge, Dixon, Gilmore, Lee and Whiteside. The five latter schools will be the biggest projects, all costing an estimated $24 million each.
Richmond could begin another round of 11 school upgrades in 2021 and have 23 complete by 2025.
With a file from Graeme Wood/Richmond News
