24°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
School embarks on $7-M upgrade
Involves move during construction
Westgate Mennonite Collegiate is trying to remodel again with an ambitious $7-million plan to transform the oldest part of the school into a modern facility dominated by an atrium.
Last time, four years ago, the community opposed an even more ambitious rebuilding plan.
"We're calling it a minimum-impact redevelopment," Ralph Regehr, chairman of the Westgate redevelopment committee, explained Monday.
Minimum impact on the surrounding community, maybe, but Westgate would have to uproot the entire school and move it elsewhere for a year during construction.
The new structure will sit on the existing site, and the only expansion will be about 1,500 square feet on the second and third floors facing the Assiniboine River.
The school unveils its plans to the community next Monday at 7 p.m. in the high school's cafeteria. A few weeks later, it's off to the city's board of adjustment to seek changes to its conditional-use variance.
The Armstrong Point Association could not be reached Monday for comment. Area Coun. Jenny Gerbasi declined to comment, because she'll sit on council's appeals committee in any challenge to the board of adjustment's ruling.
The collegiate looked at moving to a new location, principal Bob Hummelt said, but there was none to be found.
"We came up dry in all school divisions," he said.
The central portion of the school is the oldest, Hummelt said. It will be completely rebuilt, but the only thing anyone will see from the street is the new atrium.
"It's a building that's hard to cool, hard to heat," he said. "We've got little rabbit-warren offices here and there."
Regehr said the renovated space will have new classrooms, a 1,700-square-foot fitness centre and separate areas for band and choral students.
The office will overlook the atrium, from a vantage point that will let staff see the front door, Hummelt said.
Last time around, the community feared a behemoth with an institutional look, he said, and increased enrolment bringing more traffic. Enrolment won't change, said the principal.
"All three buildings are at different levels," Regehr said. The new space would be level with floors in the 1980s portion, and an elevator would connect it to the 1970s portion.
If all approvals go through smoothly, the best-case scenario is a September 2014 opening -- but the entire school would have to move for a year during construction, when the power, heat, and water would be off frequently.
Hummelt is looking all over the city for a space that could house the students and staff for a year.
"There is a risk you'll lose some students," though parents have shown great loyalty to the school, Regehr said.
Financing the plan
HOW would Westgate Mennonite Collegiate pay for its proposed renovations?
Because it's a private school, Westgate does not receive capital funding from the province.
There would be a substantial fundraising campaign, with the hope of attracting major donors.
Principal Bob Hummelt says Mennonite schools have traditionally not welcomed selling naming rights but are showing signs of starting to reconsider.
The new atrium in the centre of the school, a glassed gathering place for students, might be the best bet for that.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 17, 2012 B2
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
.jpg)
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Serious crash sends children to hospital
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- Man convicted of drunk driving in Henderson pile-up
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Committee wants report on free replacement for garbage, recycling carts
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Game-day planning a must
- No mad dash for concessions
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Traffic heavy as Bomber fans flock to U of M
- St. Norbert's hopping
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- UPDATE: Now with FAQ: Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Daycare provider charged with abandonment
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Strong may they run: Manitobans reflect on that fateful day in Boston
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Killer 'should stay in prison'
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Doctors blamed for death
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- A day in the life of 13,380 Manitoba Marathon participants
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Strong may they run: Manitobans reflect on that fateful day in Boston
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Teachers support adding sexual-orientation themes to all curricula
- The crime fighter's revolution
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- Fishing for fashion
- City's first urban reserve born
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.