Keewatin PS – Capital Renovation
In the fall of 2020, we were pleased to announce a child care renovation at Keewatin Public School in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Government of Ontario.
The project is nearing completion with the scope of work including:
- An in-school child care space with a licensing capacity of 24 pre-school or a family aged grouping program operated by FIREFLY, as well as a child and family support program hub. The renovated space will include a new cubby entrance, auxiliary storage rooms and office areas as well as student and staff washroom facilities.
- A newly renovated Kindergarten classroom to include a new entrance with cubby area and washrooms.
All areas of construction will receive interior flooring, exterior window replacements, LED tunable lighting for interior spaces and LED exterior lighting, new millwork storage and new security and intercom systems.
There are also HVAC and accessibility renovations taking place at Keewatin Public School that followed the child care renovation. An overview of that work is below.
- Full accessibility upgrades are being made throughout the facility, including a new three-stop elevator with additional, upgraded building entrance doors and ramps with new hardware, new barrier-free washrooms throughout the entire facility, new interior building signage, new fire alarm system compliant with AODA guidelines, and new sound field systems in all learning spaces as well as an integrated P/A system.
The following are the interior renovations throughout:
- HVAC replacement of all mechanical and plumbing equipment and infrastructure
- Steam boiler conversion to the high-efficiency hydronic system
- BAS upgrade
- Flooring replacement throughout classrooms and washroom and basement areas
- Painting throughout all classrooms and corridors, gymnasium and stairs
- Ceiling replacement throughout
- Classroom millwork upgrades
- New kitchen servery for improved functionality and community use opportunities
- Facility-wide lighting replacement from fluorescent to LEDs, including exit and emergency lighting and new parking lot lighting
- ITS replacement – data cabling, power cabling, Wifi, and PA with new lockdown capabilities
- New security intrusion alarm system and CCTV integrated system
Exterior works:
- Parking lot replacement and civil grading to correct stormwater drainage
- New Kiss & Ride driving loop and sidewalks to improve parent and pedestrian access to school
- New landscaping throughout
- Full asbestos abatement of all affected areas throughout the renovation
- The comparable FCI to drop from 60.25% to 22.23%
FCI = Facility Condition Index (i.e., how much of the building’s materials are either in failure or past their theoretical life expectancies) - Qualifying SCI funding totalling $6.94 million to fund project internally instead of seeking Capital Priority Funding from the Ministry of Education
KPDSB Summer 2021 Major Capital Projects
Summer is an extremely busy time for KPDSB construction activity, and the summer of 2021 was no exception. Below you will find a high-level overview of the work completed on our major capital projects during the summer of 2021.
Dryden High School – Mechanical & Electrical Retrofit
- HVAC upgrades were completed by the end of October.
- The large plumbing component of the project will continue through the winter with an approximate completion date of March 2022.
- The main exterior concrete stairs at the front entrance to the school were replaced this summer as well.
SoundField Systems / Digital Learning
The FrontRow EZ Room system is being installed in all classrooms throughout KPDSB. The project includes the installation of new sound systems and video equipment. These audio systems have numerous connection options including teacher microphones, Bluetooth and laptop connectivity, and allow for the use of assistive hearing devices. The video technology, which includes ceiling-mounted pan, tilt, and zoom cameras, will allow students and teachers to connect and collaborate with experts around the world to enrich their learning experiences.
- Hardware installation has been completed at all locations, except for the secondary school tech shops, which are getting different/specialized equipment.
- The software rollout and training will continue in the 2021-2022 school year.
Safe Schools – Re-keying / Access Controls
- Aiphones (security systems for entry and access controls at school entrances) were completed at secondary and elementary schools and childcare spaces. All schools in the KPDSB were able to control the security of their main entrance doors much more efficicietly for start-up in September 2021.
Other Projects
- Evergreen PS in Kenora – The play yard upgrades were completed by October 2021.
- Valleyview PS in Kenora – A new bike trail was completed this summer for students, staff and community to enjoy.
- Red Lake-Madsen PS – The mechanical and electrical retrofit was also completed during the summer of 2021.
Savant Lake Public School Replacement School
We were pleased to announce funding for a replacement school in Savant Lake In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Government of Ontario during the 2020-2021 school year. Work continues on this project and we look forward to consultations with staff, families and community members during the process.
The replacement school will be built on the existing school property and will provide a mix of 21st century classroom models and board designed innovative spaces for multipurpose use. The new building is expected to have the highest energy efficient design of all facilities in the KPDSB. Students and families can also look forward to a school playground redesign to provide increased outdoor learning opportunities.
It is anticipated the replacement school will open for the 2023-2024 school year (modular and prefabricated construction techniques are being explored for increased quality control and timelines).
