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FORT LANGLEY – The Province has approved $3.8 million for phase two of a seismic upgrade to Langley Fine Arts School to ensure the building is safe for students and staff, Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman and Langley MLA Mary Polak announced today.
“This school is in need of updating
to make it a safer environment for students and teachers,” said Coleman. “I’m
pleased to support funding for this valuable and unique school. The Langley
Fine Arts School has been an integral part of the Fort Langley community for
more than 40 years and the improvements will ensure it continues to be for
years to come.”
“Seismic upgrading continues to be a high priority for our government,” said Polak. “Nothing is more important than the safety of our children.”
The school’s classroom and administration blocks, constructed in the 1960s and 1970s, will undergo seismic improvements, which include:
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Strengthening of roof and floor diaphragms;
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Installation of new sheathing to walls and
reinforcement of concrete block walls to create shearwalls;
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Drag struts to be installed to connect new
shearwalls to improved roof and floor diaphragms; and
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Upgrading of some concrete foundations.
“This seismic work will ensure students and staff continue to have a safe place to learn and work,” said Education Minister Shirley Bond. “This is part of our province’s $1.5-billion commitment to upgrade the highest priority schools as quickly as possible.”
Construction on the one-storey school is expected to begin this spring and be completed in the fall. The construction budget includes $600,000 for the purchase and installation of six portable classrooms required for temporary accommodation during the construction period.
“We are so pleased to learn that our school will be seismically upgraded,” said Langley board of education chair Steve Burton. “The safety of our students and our staff is very important, and these upgrades will certainly make us better equipped to handle a seismic event.”
Since 2001, government has spent more than $1.3 billion to complete 26
new schools, 41 replacement schools, 147 additions, 25 renovations and 20 site
acquisitions across British Columbia.
By the end of 2008-09, government will have invested more than $3.1
billion in school capital and maintenance projects across B.C.
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Ministry of Education 250 356-5963 |
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