The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District is getting $2.7 million from the provincial government to repair leaks at Kanaka Creek elementary.
Rick Delorme, the school district’s director of facilities, said the elementary school’s stucco exterior is leaking water into the school’s walls. But there are no issues with mold, yet.
The school was constructed in 1994, prior to changes to provincial building standards by the B.C. government in 1998 following the leaky condo crisis, a result of substandard construction practices during the 1980s and 1990s.
“If you don’t address these issues, it can lead to mold issues and structural damage,” said Delorme. “The sooner you get at it the better.”
The project will see the replacement of school’s stucco exterior walls, skylights, and portions of the roof.
The project will likely take six to seven months to complete, with work likely starting next summer.
Unlike most schools, Kanaka Creek elementary offers a year-round curriculum, so work on the building will be taking place while school is in session.
The school was one of many across the district identified by B.C. Housing as being in need of building envelope work.
Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Whonnock, Davie Jones, Fairview, Alouette, and Albion elementary schools all require body envelope work, as does Thomas Haney, Westview, and Maple Ridge secondary.
Each of those projects will likely cost between $400,000 and $2.5 million each, with funds coming from the provincial government’s building envelope remediation program, said Delorme.
The need for building envelope work at Kanaka Creek elementary has been known for more than five years, however a recent inspection prompted the school to get moved to the top the district’s list for funding need.
“It came to our attention that we need to address it as quickly as possible,” said outgoing secretary treasurer Wayne Jefferson.
Delorme said next on the district’s priority list will be Albion elementary. Building envelope remediation has already been completed at Garibaldi secondary, Webster’s Corners elementary, Eric Langton elementary, Yennadon elementary, and Riverside Centre under the building envelope remediation program.