The first concept designs for Athabasca’s new secondary school don’t seem to be quite what people expected.
In particular, the general belief was that the new school would be attached to the Athabasca Regional Multiplex. However, that has apparently proved to be difficult.
“Right now, the two possibilities are connecting to the multiplex, which has some issues around fire access, around connecting pieces and connecting elements of foundation,” said Aspen View Public Schools (AVPS) superintendent Mark Francis.
“The other is a detached option which is close in proximity and could be attached by a breezeway or a hallway or a standalone structure.”
Although it isn’t quite what he expected, AVPS board chair Dennis MacNeil said he’s fine with the change.
“When I look at those plans, I quite like them,” he said. “I like the concept of a campus style structure, (although) my preference would have been to attach.”
The fact that the first concept designs have been completed for the new school is a bit of an open secret around town with presentations at both the Athabasca Rotary Club and Athabasca town council in the past week.
At both meetings, there was some discontent — or at the very least, some surprise — expressed over the direction the school designs are taking.
One key issue that has been brought forward is the proposed size of the community/school library. According to Francis, the size of the library follows provincial government requirements.
“We are funded in its entirety by the provincial government. So, Alberta Infrastructure provides a grant, we're building a school,” he said. “We have to have x number of classrooms (between 75 and 85 square metres). We have to have a gym.”
He continued, “If we want (the gym) to go bigger, we can go up to 10-per-cent bigger. If we want to go smaller, we can go 10-per-cent smaller. (But) you couldn't steal the full 90 metres from the gym and add the full 90 metres to the library, because the library can only go up 40 metres.”
Basically, there’s only so much room available and quite a few things have to fit inside.
That said, Francis says the plans are still a work in progress. He called the designs “one step above sketches on a napkin” — essentially, an approximation of where everything might be when the school is built.
“In 2012 … we were envisioning what a school community facility can look like, and now we're actually at the reality,” he said. “You can build in certain places; you can't build in certain places because of road access. You can build a structure this big only this far from another structure this big, because of fire code.”
Mayor Roger Morrill said he agrees with Francis, saying it’s the school board’s project to design in whatever way they feel needs to be done.
“My understanding at this time is one very preliminary thought has been presented,” he said. “Aspen View has to deal with the location and the design through Alberta Infrastructure and (the) architecture firm.”
The next step is the architects taking any changes that have been asked of them by the stakeholders and bringing the layout back for a second round.
