Students and staff who will eventually call a rebuilt Parkcrest Elementary in Kamloops home got a first look at their new school today.

The rebuilt K-to-6 school will be a one-story, L-shaped building, designed with heavy timber, brick and wood, as well as large windows.

SD73 Director of Facilities Art McDonald says the design work is about a quarter of the way completed.

“What our architects here are presenting today is where we are at. Its a really nice design, a good flow. For those parents that have been around long enough, students will no longer have to walk through classrooms to get to other classrooms,” he said. “A double sized gym which is fantastic for an elementary school.”

McDonald says about 80 per cent of the comments raised during consultations with the school staff and the Parent Advisory Council were incorporated into the design.

“The design is still subject to some changes as we are still a bit early in the design process,” he said.

Designed to seat 510 students – an increase of 120 students from the old school which burned down in September 2019 – the new school will have 18 classrooms and an additional three kindergarten classrooms for 60 students.

“It did resonate through the whole province when we heard what happened there and we are just really thrilled to be on it,” Justin Dyck, the Principle Partner from Chilliwack-based Station One Architects said. “I think its important when we design schools, every district is different throughout the province, every climate, every region. Very different. So its important that these are tailored to your district.”

“The nice thing about a one-story school like this is that it will provide students with the opportunity to have direct access to the outside.”

Station One, formerly CHP Architects, also designed the Valleyview Secondary School expansion in Kamloops.

“We are excited to be here today. It has been nearly two years since we lost Parkcrest Elementary,” added SD73 Board Chair Rhonda Kershaw.

In all, the B.C. Government is spending $34.84 million while the Kamloops-Thompson School District is adding $300,000. The City of Kamloops is also contributing $2.5 million to build a larger gymnasium and Neighbourhood Learning Centre space which will be used by the community.

According to an SD73 statement, the new Parkcrest Elementary will incorporate geothermal heating and cooling through a geothermal loop beneath the playing field. There is also the potential for solar panels to be installed on the roof, though that is not part of the budget just yet.

“It is fitting that we end this school year optimistically,” Incoming SD73 Superintendent, Dr. Rhonda Nixon, said.

“In discussion with staff and parents, I’ve learned that Kamloops cares for Parkcrest and that you had a place for your children within days of the fire. I’ve learned that there was an outpouring of community support and fundraisers and donations and supplies almost immediately upon hearing the news.”

“Now our school will be restored even better than it was,” she added.

Construction on the new Parkcrest Elementary school is scheduled to start in the summer of 2022, with kids expected to be in the building in time for the 2024/25 school year.

You can watch a virtual walk through video of the new school below: