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This looks cool, but what if it rains?

This is shaping up to be quite the redevelopment effort. Some 4,500 pupils have walked the halls of that school throughout its 80 year history.

Most notable is the new main classroom building that will push the definition of what a learning environment should look like. If only the public school system invested as much time and energy into designing its schools. But I digress.

The site's three heritage buildings, once the home and property of Victoria's famous architect, Francis Rattenbury, will be fully restored. This includes the Rattenbury House, the boat house and the coach house. Rattenbury's property was sold to the school in 1935 following the architect's untimely death earlier that year at the age of 68.

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Artist's rendering of the proposed main classroom building at Glenlyon Norfolk School's Junior Campus on Beach Drive. The building will feature a two-storey interconnected learning commons area and bleachers (pictured) for performances or school assemblies. Source: Glenlyon Norfolk School Society

Glenlyon Norfolk School’s Beach Drive campus slated for redevelopment

http://victoria.citified.ca/news/glenlyon-norfolk-schools-beach-drive-campus-slated-for-redevelopment/

1962- Following a heavy storm from the south east, it was discovered that a large portion of the beach in front of the Glenlyon School had been washed away owing to the heavy surge of water rushing through the gap between the end of the breakwater and Mary Tod Island. Following an examination by departmental engineers, the federal Public Works rebuilt the beach at a cost to the government in excess of $5,000.

https://www.oakbay.ca/sites/default/files/History/murdoch.pdf

This project is going ahead, starting this month.

There’s a ground-breaking ceremony this week.

Phase 1 construction starts at the end of June (after the end of the school year).

http://www.mygns.ca/support-gns/campus-transformation

This part of GNS is their pre-K-to-Grade 5.

This transformation of their Beach Drive campus has been a long time coming. It was identified decades ago as requiring upgrades, but their Bank St campus (Middle & Senior schools) needed improvements first and underwent its own upgrades a few years back.

[An article from back in Jan. 2017 gives some more detail:

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/big-makeover-for-private-school-1.7099213 ]

It must have been tricky getting redevelopment plans through, what with respecting the heritage Rattenbury buildings, the beachside location, water views & height, etc. Glad to see this going ahead for GNS.