BC announces $40 million addition to Surrey's Sullivan Heights Secondary

Classroom / Shutterstock

The BC Government has announced it is investing $40 million into the creation of 700 new seats and learning areas at Sullivan Heights Secondary school in Surrey.

“Sullivan Heights Secondary’s students have put up with crowded hallways and portables for too long,” said BC Education Minister, Rob Fleming. “We are proud to be making this urgently needed investment, to relieve overcrowding and give students a safer, more comfortable environment where they can focus on learning and succeed.”

The Grades 8 to 12 school has an enrolment of more than 1,500 students, despite only having space for 1,000 in the existing building.

There are 14 portables in use, and the school uses a modified schedule to help accommodate students.

The province said the $40-million, three-storey addition will create 29 new classrooms and, once complete, the school will have enough space for 1,700 students.

The portables will be removed from the site when the project is complete.

In addition to the classrooms, the expansion will include a new gymnasium for school and community use, and a bridge connection between the new building and the existing building, to provide a shared main entry and administration space.

Construction on the addition is expected to begin in winter 2020, with completion expected in fall 2021.

“The 29 new classrooms will be among the largest school additions ever constructed in our district… while providing a beautiful new facility, including a fully equipped gymnasium,” said Laurie Larsen, Surrey Board of Education chair.

The Ministry of Education is contributing $35 million toward the expansion, and the Surrey School District is contributing $5 million.

This is the first project under a newly negotiated cost-sharing agreement with the Surrey School District that will allow the ministry and the district to move forward on projects more quickly.

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