$2.4-million going to seismic upgrades at Campus View Elementary school. Photo: Times Colonist
The B.C. Government is funding $2.4-million for building improvements at Campus View Elementary school in case of a large earthquake.
It is part of a provincial commitment of $522-million over three years for seismic upgrades in B.C.
The school was built in 1959, with additions in 1962, 1964, 1967 and 2001.
Four of five blocks of Campus View Elementary are deemed to have a high risk of failure in case of a large earthquake.
Construction on the school begins in June 2018 and will be complete in September 2019.
Interior work will be done over summer school breaks to allow students to remain in class throughout construction.
Upgrades will see 12 concrete restraint anchorages added, with concrete footings and shear walls against the outside of the school.
Steel anchors will be installed to connect the shear walls to the roof.
“We are making this investment to make sure families at Campus View can send their kids to school knowing they will be safe in the event of an earthquake,” Minister of Education Rob Fleming said.
“We know there is more work to do and that is why we have 50 seismic projects that will proceed to approval in the next 18 months.”
“The safety of our students and staff is our first priority,” Greater Victoria School District Superintendent Piet Langstraat said.
“We have a responsibility to provide safe schools that mitigate any risks from seismic activity.”
The province says 165 seismic projects have already been completed.
Andy Neal
