Penticton Secondary School
Penticton (SD #67), British Columbia

Awards:
2009 Fortis BC PowerSense Conservation Excellence Award

This 1350 capacity grades eight to 12 school is designed by KMBR in association with Bevanda Architecture of Penticton. Two brick heritage structures on the site, the Ellis and Shatford Buildings, face prominently onto Main Street and date back to 1913 and 1921 respectively. The remainder of the existing school has been built since 1937, linking the Ellis and Shatford Buildings and sprawling inefficiently over the west side of the site.

Phase 1 of the Feasibility Study looked at numerous options ranging from renovation to full replacement and various ways to site the new construction. One option examined locating a new school on the east end of the site, necessitating demolition of the Board Office and relocation of those operations into the Ellis Building. A critical development occurred when the City offered to take over the Shatford Building for community use. This enabled the School District to go forward to the Ministry with an option incorporating the Ellis Building into a new school, the least costly option and with the City’s commitment, one which preserved both heritage buildings.

KMBR and Bevanda Architecture developed the preferred option so that the new construction is compact on three-storeys with links to each end of the Ellis Building. The configuration forms a courtyard next to the Ellis Building which will act as an outdoor extension of the adjacent two-storey high student commons. The main entrance to the school facing Eckhardt Street is also strategically located between the two original heritage buildings to be visible and accessible from Main Street. A feature that will enhance the main entrance is the curving wall of the second storey library which will, in form and material, defer to and reflect the nearby heritage structures. Selective use of brick will also connect the new and old structures visually.