The long-awaited replacement of New Westminster Secondary School (NWSS), ready to roll in 2019, will be the largest school investment in B.C.’s history.
The B.C. Minister of Education made the announcement today saying the construction of the new school, which will house nearly 2,100 students from grades 9 to 12, will cost $106.5 million.
“This project has been a long time in coming and I know it will change the future of education in New Westminster, while protecting the historical significance of this site,” said Education Minister Mike Bernier.
One of the largest secondary schools in the province, NWSS was built in 1949 and has been on the government’s radar for several years due to the school’s poor condition and high seismic risk. The existing school was built on land formerly used as a burial ground, public works yard and staging area for the military during World War II.
The new school will be built on portions of the current site, outside the burial areas, and an archaeologist will be overseeing the project to ensure heritage requirements are met and any historic artifacts are recorded.
“This parcel of land has a very rich and complex history,” said Hilbert Yiu, president of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver.
“We are encouraged to learn that the new school building will not be built over any former burial sites. We also welcome plans for broad community consultations and look forward to contributing to that process.”
Not only will the new school get a modern design but it will also be built with the ability to expand as enrolment in the area increases.
Construction on the new school will start in 2017 and it is expected to open in December 2019. At that time the old school will be demolished.