The Greater Essex County District School Board is going to be busy for the next couple of years with construction on two new elementary schools set to get underway.
Final approvals have been given for builds to replace Prince Andrew Public School in LaSalle and the Giles Campus in Windsor.
Superintendent of Education Todd Awender says the $15.4-million project in Windsor is a unique one for the board as the school will be going into the former International Playing Card Company on Mercer St. which was originally built in 1928.
He says several heritage aspects of the building will be preserved in the new build.
"It's very historical, obviously, with the International Card Factory there. Very unique, so we're really excited because it's going to be a very different school because of the heritage piece that we have to keep with it. The front is really unique. Just that historical look to it, has a really nice presence in the community."
The International Playing Card Co. located at 1123 Mercer Street in Windsor (Photo courtesy of the City of Windsor)
Awender says the factory made Bicycle brand playing cards and that'll be incorporated into the design as well.
"The Bicycle cards and the two colours and the little lip that they put on the back of the building with the colours on the facade. It's a mix of the red and blue Bicycle card packs that they came in. They've taken that and incorporated it into the design that we have now, very unique."
The $9.2-million school in LaSalle will be located adjacent the Vollmer Complex — something Awender says will provide crossover opportunities for students.
"They'll have all of the amenities in the current school with their music room and art and science and a really nice gym. There's also the Vollmer that's right around the corner from it. It's within walking distance so they can use those amenities and then our own facilities with the soccer fields at the back and so forth will be great too."
Todd Awender, Superintendent of Accommodations for the Greater Essex County District School Board attends the regular board meeting on January 17, 2017. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
He says a new school is needed as LaSalle is booming with residential development.
"We're really pleased with it. We have a great location right by the Vollmer Centre and we know that the development out in that municipality is heading in that direction. So we figure that in the future we're going to draw a lot of students to that grade school when it's built and looking nice and brand new."
Preliminary work is already underway at both sites and will kick into high gear when the Ministry of Education issues final approvals.
If all goes to plan, LaSalle students will move into their new school in September 2020 while the school in Windsor is expected to be fully operational by January 2021.