“Education” — a fitting new theme for the Old Brick School.
Manasc Isaac Architects presented their schematic design for the Old Brick School Aug. 12, at a special joint council meeting with the Athabasca County council and the Town of Athabasca council.
“They have come up in spades with what we have asked them to do,” said Mayor Colleen Powell in a later interview.
According to the schematic report, the unifying theme that connects the proposed programming “is one of education.”
The architect firm presented the local councils with a new layout for the three floors of the building demonstrated by a 3D-printed model, said Manasc Isaac senior technologist and project manager Garth Crump.
“The meeting went really well, we think,” he said.
The proposed redesign would keep the Athabasca Pottery Club in the basement, where they want to be. One change is the installation of a lift, a cheaper alternative to an elevator, Powell said.
“Accessibility is critical,” she said.
The schematic design suggests the main floor could include a teaching kitchen, a bistro or cafe and a “flex space,” which is a flexible space for anything from meetings to tastings. The second floor could include a 1920-style classroom as a homage to the history of the building. According to Mansc Isaac’s plan, the second floor would also include an office space, a makerspace for collaboration and a rooftop patio.
The architects came up with the schematic design after both councils passed motions to proceed with the project last December. A series of open houses and meetings with council members and community stakeholders directed Manasc Isaac’s vision, while a $200,000 Intermunicipal Collaboration Grant from the province is funding the project, which was set to produce a design plan ready for grants, though not tenders.
Athabasca County communications co-ordinator Karl Kopan said that a big takeaway from the meeting was that “both councils expressed the need to prioritize preserving the outside of the building.”
“There are many of us, me particularly, that want that building to be designated a provincial historic site, which the province has asked us to do, and other councils have refused to do. I think we’ve got enough now that we will go ahead and do that,” Powell said.
Manasc Isaac provided a breakdown of costs for the Old School redesign. From demolition to furnishings, it is estimated to total $3.6 million.
The budget provided by Manasc Isaac is categorized as “must do,” “should do” and “nice to do.” Demolition, concrete, wood plastics and composites, openings, HVAC, power systems and site are categorized as “must dos,” totalling $1.3 million.
Crump said the team has not received official feedback from the councils on the schematic design.
“The next step of the process would be to create technical documents,” he said. “Which would include blueprints, floor plans and elevation.”
“But after that next stage in the design process, the federal funding runs out,” Crump said.
Once the initial funding cycle has run out the town and county will apply for additional funding, Powell said.
“This is not happening in a year or two; this is long term,” she said.
Powell added another thing to consider is the desperate need for a new library.
“They want to build in that general area, maybe they could connect to the brick school — that would be nice.”
