Get the latest information about the rebuilding of École Whitehorse Elementary School.
Work is underway to address aging Whitehorse schools. As part of this work, École Whitehorse Elementary School will be replaced with a modern facility. It will meet the needs of the community for years to come. The design will focus on providing flexible, multi-use spaces.
The École Whitehorse Elementary School replacement project is progressing steadily. Below is the updated timeline based on the status and upcoming phases:
| Timeframe | Activity |
|---|---|
| August 2023 | Kobayashi + Zedda Architects (KZA) awarded a contract to oversee the design process, including site analysis. |
October 2024
| The Government of Yukon announced the school will be built at the northwest corner of the Takhini Educational Land Reserve, near Range Road and University Drive. |
| November 2024 – January 2025 | Pre-Design phase continues: traffic study and geotechnical report in progress. |
| Early 2025 | Conceptual Design phase begins. Consultant will develop three proposed design options, including site plans, traffic flow, parking, and outdoor amenities. |
École Whitehorse Elementary ranked as the highest priority for a school replacement. View the rankings of all Whitehorse schools.
A wide range of factors were considered in this ranking, including the:
- age and condition of the building;
- available space for additional students; and
- suitability for modern learning programs.
École Whitehorse Elementary is over 70 years old and needs to be replaced. The estimated cost to renovate is 1.4 times more than the cost to build a new school. The current building would need significant updates to meet current building requirements. This alone would make the renovation cost-ineffective.
The benefits of building a new school include:
- better energy performance with reduced greenhouse gas emissions;
- a modern learning environment;
- access to a larger outdoor space for students; and
- spaces that emphasize more collaborative and experiential learning.
How disruptive will the construction be?
We'll have plans in place to manage noise, traffic and dust during the construction of the school on the Takhini Educational Land Reserve.
The new school designs focus on:
- flexible, multi-use spaces that emphasize collaborative learning;
- integration of technology;
- integration of Yukon First Nations culture and learning;
- using natural materials and creating spaces that support the integration of Yukon First Nations language and culture;
- connections to the outdoors;
- good acoustics, focusing on learning spaces that are adjacent; and
- student inclusivity.
The new school designs also focus on:
- daylighting – the concept of using natural light in learning spaces;
- using natural materials and creating spaces that support the integration of Yukon First Nations language and culture;
- connections to the outdoors;
- good acoustics, focusing on learning spaces that are adjacent to one another; and
- student inclusivity.