École Sir William Osler Q & A

Winnipeg School Division has received many questions and comments pertaining to the École Sir William Osler School Expansion. 
These are summarized with responses below: 

What architectural firm is assigned to this project design and how was it selected?

Verne Reimer Architecture was selected as the Prime Consultant by the Province based on the results of their General Intake for Prime Consultant Services Request for Proposals.

Verne Reimer Architecture and their team of consultants (Mechanical, Electrical, Structural, etc.) are responsible to develop the design and construction documents for tendering based on the scope of work, guidelines and process defined by the province and input from the Winnipeg School Division. During the design process the Consulting team engages with the authorities having jurisdiction for their review and comments. The design of the site plan, floor plans, building sections and elevations, structural, mechanical and electrical systems, etc. are to be in accordance with applicable Building codes, Energy codes, standards, and City of Winnipeg regulations and by-laws.

Safety

How will the construction affect the student population? How long will it take to dig out foundation and drill piles for the foundation? Will the noisiest work be completed over the summer? Will the students require ear plugs in the classroom or at recess for their proximity to the construction site?

Projects specifications and construction documents typically instruct contractors and tradespeople to follow strict guidelines for noise generation, access to student and staff areas, provision of barriers and protections in construction areas, and controlling interactions with students and staff. Security measures can be adopted to monitor tradespeople and ensure that disruptions are minimized, and proper supervision of all construction work is maintained. Students and staff will not require ear plugs.

Will the daycare be constructed on piles and how loud will that be?

Yes, both the school addition and daycare will be constructed on piles, however, the piles will be cast in place and will not be driven piles. There will still be noise due to the drilling rig, but considerably less than if the piles were driven. 

Unfortunately, in this type of construction there will be noise. We will work with the contractor to mitigate noise and phase construction to be the least disruptive to the school and residents. 

Noisy work will occur during times allowed by the City of Winnipeg by-laws. 

What is the timing for the construction? 

It is anticipated that the construction timeline will be between 12 to 20 months, depending on weather, supply chain issues, etc. Depending on several factors, it could start as early as this fall. Once a contractor is in place, WSD can better inform the school and residents when construction will start, and when noisy work will occur.

Will the daycare have buzzers and bells like the school does.

No, the daycare will not have buzzers or bells.

In the design process, what consideration was given to student safety, community impact such as cost, environment etc?

When designing additions to schools, safety of the children is a top priority as well as efficient function for the school. The building is a simple form design to reduce mass and is therefore cost effective and energy efficient. Building configuration, circulation and room adjacencies have been organized specifically to allow for easy monitoring of hallways and stairways and provide for safe and efficient movement of students and staff.

Mechanical systems in the daycare are electric to reduce carbon footprint. Building systems will exceed Manitoba Energy code. The school will meet LEED silver targets as required by the province. A traffic study to ensure safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists has also been completed and has provided useful direction in the design considerations.

As the only sidewalk in this direction, it’s heavily used by children at the same peak time as the parking lots. The boulevard has numerous mature trees which add to being a safety hazard as they block site lines. The safety hazard is exacerbated by the projected significant increase in pedestrian traffic given the increase in a junior high student population that generally walks or cycles to school. How will these safety hazards be addressed?

The site design provides thru-pedestrian traffic that avoids both approaches (via new sidewalk) and, according to the traffic study, is the most likely path of travel for students walking to and from the school. The parking lot will not be very active except for a brief period in the morning and late afternoon, before and after the peak in student activity. In addition, it is not the only sidewalk on Brock as there is also a full-length sidewalk on the opposite side of the street from the school (east side).

The study further shows that providing a safe drop off and pick up at the curb on the school side of the street is safer than children crossing the street to access a parent’s vehicle on Brock. Safe drop off and pick up is the main purpose of the loop, although fire truck access is required to the expanded school and requires a curb cut off on Brock in any case. Access off the back lane is not allowed by the City Fire Department Examiner.

Will there be enough parking spaces in the parking lot for staff parking and pick up/drop off?

WSD is reviewing with the Traffic Study Engineer and Architect as to what is required for parking and for a drop off loop on WSD property to mitigate the potential of parents and staff using Brock Street.

Environment/Stewardship

How will the visibility of the parking lot be minimized or made aesthetically pleasing?

The intention is to use landscaping materials such as decorative fencing, trees, shrubs, and planting beds along Brock Street and in parking areas to soften the paved areas and provide screening of parking lots from the street. 

Does the Winnipeg School Division believe that the expansion plans have been done in a way that minimizes impact to the neighbourhood and is not a detriment to the community?

We do believe we have done this. Our priorities for the project were:

1. Maximize operational functionality for students and staff.
2. Safety for student drop off.
3. Minimize impact on community.

I feel that active transportation to school by staff and students has been grossly overlooked. The sidewalk leading to the school from the south is no longer a safe place to walk with the addition of several traffic approaches. I feel that the pedestrian traffic has received minor consideration compared to vehicular traffic and the convenience of parking. Why are we not promoting active transportation?

We are reducing the number of approaches off Brock to two and will be consolidating the parking lots into one. The sidewalk that encircles the traffic loop would now allow direct access from the sidewalk to the daycare and school without crossing any of the approaches. We will also be including additional bike parking spaces.

The green space on the east side of the lot, along Brock St., significantly reduces the water runoff into the sewer system. The proposed school addition will virtually eliminate this green space. Adding the parking areas to the east of the new structure will literally cover the entire east side of the lot facing Grant eliminating any opportunity for the water to run into green space. This will result into a significant increase in water running directly into the already overburdened water drainage system. In the alternative solution of adding to the existing parking area the water will run into the green space and absorbed into the soil. Has this been considered in the design plan?

The size of the impermeable surface is rather small compared to the permeable surface. The increase in drainage will be within the capacities of the existing infrastructure.

The existing trees create a wind and snow barrier. The removal of these trees will increase the snow and intensify the wind load in the parking lot and on the east side of the school. Has this been considered in the design plan?

While the existing trees do not currently provide snow or wind barrier because they are mature with canopies higher in the air, revised design for the site means that mature trees on the east side of the school will be maintained.

Creating a standalone structure, the daycare, instead of joining it to the school structure will increase its energy usage and negatively impact a number of LEED criteria for sustainability. Increased building materials, HVAC and electrical requirements, etc. Has this been considered in the design plan?

The difference in costs is negligible. Having the daycare attached to the school was explored and abandoned due to the conflict with safe drop off and pick up zones, and by separating the daycare from the school, the daycare can have full administrative control of their building meaning they have their own climate control, no end of period/start of period bells disrupting their schedules and ease of access through their own exterior entrance.

Increasing the heat island effect increases the air conditioning load. The current tree structure and green space will reduce the heating and cooling loads of the new structure facing Grant. In addition, the concrete parking lot near the school will increase the depth of the frost line potentially increasing the heating requirement of the school. Has this been considered in the design planning?

Heat islands are a result of dense urban development in areas where there is no relief to expansive areas of heat absorbing materials, such as in a downtown area. Suburban areas like River Heights or Charleswood have ample green space and trees that mitigate the impact of new buildings. The addition of the school and daycare will not raise ambient temperatures to any significant degree that would impact current cooling loads. We do not expect ground temperatures to change significantly due to additional paving areas, so heating loads for the basement will not be impacted.

Funding and consultations

Has the Corydon Community Centre been informed that they are losing their baseball fields?

We are still developing the site and we will relocate one or both baseball back stops to another location in the field area. Therefore, the community centre will continue to have access to baseball fields.

What consultation has taken place with City of Winnipeg and/or Province of Manitoba?

As the funding agency, the Province of Manitoba is fully involved and has been represented during the entire course of the design process. During Schematic Design phase, the consultant team met with the City of Winnipeg planner who is assigned to the area. They were shown preliminary plans including site plans, elevations, and floor plans. Zoning by-laws and requirements for parking, approaches, and setbacks were discussed. Updated plans were subsequently sent for their review and comment.

During Schematic Design phase, the consultant team also met with the City of Winnipeg Fire Department Plan Examiner to discuss emergency vehicle access on the site.   Floor plans and site plans were shared at various times during the process.

Later during design phase, the consultant team communicated with City of Winnipeg Public Works to discuss requirements for approaches, back lane improvements, and traffic flow.

How will the Superintendent request the City of Winnipeg make improvements in roads and sidewalks adjacent to school sites to help facilitate this development and expansion? E.g. upgrade of the existing parking lot access (Campbell Street back lane).

The school division is required to notify the city regarding our development and the City of Winnipeg will then be obligated to review condition of roads and intersections around the school and provide a plan for improvements required by the new development. We have notified the city of our intent to expand the school and are submitting the traffic study to them for their review.

When was the community notified of the annual budget that included the proposed development?

As the project is funded by the province, it is not included in WSD’s annual budget. Provincial funding of the project was announced in a news release by the province on January 19, 2023.

What funding streams have been accessed for this expansion project?

The Government of Manitoba funds the capital project which must be designed and constructed according to the Manitoba Green Building Policy. This takes into consideration sustainable design elements and performance. The school will meet LEED silver targets as required by the province. 

We are also applying for incentives according to the Efficiency Manitoba Guidelines. This building will be efficient and exceed Manitoba Energy Code.

With respect to other specific funding sources recommended by community members:

• 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan is a framework for the future, the province is not involved with this policy currently. 
• The Building Communities Initiative is an expired program,
• Home Grown grant applies to city property.  School Division property is not eligible for the grant.  
• The Healthy Communities Initiative is an expired program.
• Efficiency Manitoba, as with all our projects we will register the project with them for applicable credits.

When and why was the École Sir William Osler project added to WSD’s five-year capital plan?

WSD submitted the École Sir William Osler project to the province first in 2016 as part of its 2017/18 to 2021/22 Capital Plan requests and then each year since then.

The need for the project is due to the increased demand and enrollment in the French Immersion Milieu schools in the southern section of WSD. Other factors considered include provincial policy, planned developments in the area, inadequate instructional and support services space. In addition, parents in the community raised concerns about overcrowded classrooms, the need for an additional French Immersion Milieu school and the need for a junior high program in a French Immersion Milieu setting.

The province’s Public School Finance Board considered WSD’s request and provided approval to proceed with the project in mid-2021.

Has the WSD Board of Trustees approved WSD’s five-year Capital Plan submission and how can I access the submission?

Yes, the WSD Board of Trustees reviews and approves the five-year Capital Plan submission annually. The plan is then submitted to the Province’s Board. To access the submission, the public must make a request to the province.

How can I view the WSD Community Use Policy as it pertains to the green space at the school?

WSD’s policy on Community Use of Schools is available on the division’s website.

Why was a two-storey option not chosen? School budgets are tight, why was the lower cost, higher quality option not implemented? 

The proposed design is a two-storey addition. There was no lower cost/higher quality option.

The proposed design to address the future for École Sir William Osler School either breaks, does not follow or optimize, a number of Manitoba Provincial and City of Winnipeg by-laws, policies and strategic planning initiatives such as The Complete Communities Direction Strategy for the City of Winnipeg, LEEDS Certification, climate change initiatives, and Efficiency Manitoba guidelines. How do you respond to this?

The City of Winnipeg has reviewed the documents and the project is compliant with all city bylaws. No variances or conditional use is required for the proposed design. This project meets the targets for LEED silver. Project managers are applying for incentives according to the Efficiency Manitoba Guidelines. This building will be efficient and exceed Manitoba Energy Code as is customary.

Additionally, the City of Winnipeg Planning Department, Fire Department, Public Works and a Traffic consultant have all reviewed the project and support the selected design direction.

This sidewalk will be dissected by three driveways servicing buses and cars. No breaks in the sidewalk currently exist. This will require a variance from the city as this action doesn’t follow The Complete Communities Direction Strategy for the City of Winnipeg. This type of variance has historically have been rejected due to the safety hazards it creates. Has the division applied for a variance?

The project does follow the principles of the Complete Communities Direction Strategy and as such, variances are not required for approaches. We will be applying for private approaches through Public Works. Inserting approaches to neighbourhood improvements is allowed. 

As the parking alternative is to increase the existing parking lot it will be expanding into the green space further from the school and therefore not creating a significant negative impact. Has this been considered in the design plan?

Increased traffic in the lane has been identified by Public Works, Winnipeg Fire Department and by our traffic consultant as not desirable.

Constructing a standalone daycare and standalone parking areas will be significantly more costly to build than adding the daycare to the existing structure and adding the parking to the existing parking area. The standalone structure and parking areas will have a significant increase in cost to operate and to maintain as compared to other options. Has this been considered in the design plan?

Operating costs will be slightly higher but consolidating the daycare into the school addition created problems with safe daycare drop off, less open site and creation of possible hiding places for students, less school drop off space, and complicated circulation from drop off to the school. Further the daycare provider has full control of their building and reduces the administrative burden on the school administrator. 

The requirement for a Traffic Study by a qualified traffic engineer is a requirement of this project, by law.

MORR Transportation Consulting has been engaged to complete the Traffic Study.

How have First Nations been included in the development process?

Sir William Osler administration  and staff have engaged in the divisions Indigenous Education professional development. Teams from Sir William Osler have been actively participating their Road to Reconciliation plan and have included Indigenous perspectives during the school expansion. The Divisional Elder has been involved in work with Sir William in their journey. In addition, WSD is involving an indigenous artist to provide an indigenous perspective for visual aspects of the expansion. 

Is École Sir William part of the Francophone Division?

No, it is within the Winnipeg School Division

Questions regarding specific documents:

Public School Finance Board Act:

Clauses 3(1), 8(2), 8.1(1), 8.1(4) and 8.3(3) are referring to the Public Schools Finance Board and not WSD.

Clauses 8.2(1), 8.3(1) and 8.3(2) has been responded in the “Funding and Consultation” section of the FAQ.

The Public Schools Finance Board Amendment and The Public Schools Amendment Act:

Clauses 8(1), 8(2), 8.1(1) and 8.1(4) are referring to the Public Schools Finance Board and not WSD.

Clauses 8.2(1), 8.3(1) and 8.3(2) has been responded in the “Funding and Consultation” section of the FAQ.

The Public Schools Act:

All of Part I.1 does not apply to the WSD.

The Division complies with the expectations of the Act:

Part III: The noted sections 41, 47, 48, 52, 55 and 57 are relate to the Divisions operating and providing educational programming; by accommodating students, working with parent advisory committees, establish policy for use of facilities and grounds, entering into community use agreements, transportation needs for students, establishing patrols, closing of schools, delegation of board powers, and ministers authority.

Part V: 

Clause 68, during the planning process the design team has and continues to take into account pedestrian safety through our going consultation with City of Winnipeg, our Traffic Engineer, the school and community. The Division and our Architect have been communicating with City’s traffic group. The City, as per the time frames noted in this clause, will undertake and traffic audit and advise the Division of any changes it will implement.     

Clause 172.2(4) is the Province’s requirement to provide capital support for the construction funding of an early learning or child care facility.

Clause 172.6(2) is for the operational funding support to school divisions, but not including capital support. 

Clauses 178 & 179 are related to the School Boards annual operating budget. Capital support program funding for construction projects is under the administration of the Province.

Schools Building Space Standards:

The Division does encourage the use of the schools by community groups and organizations, either through our permitting process and/or specific agreements.