School might be out for summer, but that didn’t stop a few Oak Bay students from joining Education Minister Peter Fassbender on a tour of the new Oak Bay High school. The new $51.6 million, 151,000 square foot Oak Bay High is scheduled to open in September 2015.
Oak Bay High embodies a partnership and ongoing relationship with the Oak Bay community. The Neighbourhood Learning Centre and the performing arts theatre serve as a reminder that this is truly a school shared by students, families and seniors.
Throughout Oak Bay High, students have high-speed Wi-Fi access and the ability to broadcast their assignments to wireless projectors and Apple TVs found in most every classroom.
Features of the new school:
- Construction of the new $51.6 million Oak Bay High began on July 5, 2013.
- Built to LEED Gold Standard which reduces operating costs and carbon output.
- Has a student capacity of 1,300; which allows for anticipated future enrolment growth.
- School size:
- New building is 17,700 square metres (more than 190,000 square feet)
- Neighbourhood Learning Centre is 1,766 square metres (about 19,000 square feet)
- School features:
- Multi-level building which supports many different types of spaces for personalized learning.
- Use of natural light and smart lights reduce energy costs and while smart sinks and water stations reduce water consumption.
- Integrates best practices team learning areas with group work spaces designed into common features like stair wells and hallways.
- Moveable walls enable adaptable programing and instruction; gymnasium includes a technically advanced sprung floor, which absorbs shocks, giving it a softer feel and is considered the best available for indoor sports and P.E. classes and is equipped to double as an auditorium with modern projectors and sound systems.
- The state-of-the-art community performing arts theatre features a 420-seat capacity, proscenium stage (archway above), orchestra area and rehearsal space.
- New soccer pitch will feature artifical turf.
- Computer labs on every floor of the school to complement the digital research learning centre and library to support emerging high-technology learning.
- The school district is funding 100 additional spaces for international students from its local capital reserve.
- The District of Oak Bay has pledged $1 million to the development of the community performing arts theatre.
Featured photo credit: oakbay.sd61.bc.ca
