The Limestone District School Board has broken ground on a new $10.4 million elementary school in Kingston, incorporating a mix of modern classrooms and specialized spaces.
General contractor Tambro Construction Ltd. is building the new Molly Brant Elementary School, designed by Kingston-based Colbourne & Kembel, Architects (CKA) Inc. The 48,000-sq. ft. school will be highly energy-efficient.
“The energy modelling completed during the design of the building indicates a savings of 63 per cent over the (benchmark) ASHRAE 90.1 -2010 (standard),” project architect Rhonda Horne-McQuay said in published report.
“The high-insulation-value walls and roof were designed to complement the site-specific design. Solar shading of south side windows with permanent sunshades and tree planting along the west side windows assist in reducing solar gain along the west elevation.” The school is expected to pen in the 2016-17 school year, with discovery centres, a kitchen lab and technology room, a learning commons (library) area, gym, outdoor recreation areas, day-care facilities and multi-use spaces for shared school and community use.
The building’s electrical systems will “efficiently and effectively” support 21st century technology infrastructure as well as energy-efficient heating and lighting systems, the school board says.
“A combination of high-efficiency fluorescent and LED light fixtures is utilized within the building,” said Horne-McQuay. “The exterior lighting is all dark-sky-friendly LED fixtures.”
Project consultants include structural engineers Halsall Associates, now part of WSP, mechanical and electrical engineers WSP, landscape architects Scott Wentworth Landscape Group Ltd. and cost consultants Hanscomb Ltd.
