Take a peek at new St. Mary's College

Construction starts summer of 2013

By Brian Kelly, The Sault Star

Updated 1 hour ago

The new St. Mary's College could include artificial turf on its soccer and football fields and a theatre that could seat 500 to 600.

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board wants to showcase its flagship programs to attract students to what will be its sole high school after St. Basil Secondary consolidates with St. Mary's.

The new barrier-free school, to open in September 2015, will feature 189,000 square feet over three levels. It'll cost $43 million to build on about 20 acres on Second Line East near Old Garden River Road and the soon-to-open Pine Street extension. Construction starts in the summer of 2013.

"It's a highly visible site in a very prominent location in the city," architect Franco Pastore of EPOH told trustees at a meeting on Wednesday.

He said the board will have to fundraise for enhanced sports and theatre spaces and possibly for the "heavy timber" the board wants used to figure prominently in the school's construction.

"The ideal would be to have artificial surfaces and rubberized track so it becomes more of a collegiate setting for the athletics program," said Pastore.

He and Paul Sapounzi of VG Architects presented schematic drawings to trustees at the Catholic education office.

"I think this is a model high school of a unique community," said Sapounzi during his presentation.

"I'm really pumped and excited about building this. I think it's going to work great. I think a lot of other school boards are going to look at really seriously."

Building highlights include seating for 600 to 700 for gym events and a food court with kiosks "like you would see in a mall," said Pastore. A Catholic community centre, at the centre of the school, includes a chapel.

"From anywhere in the school, literally, you'll be able to see the chapel," said Sapounzi.

"(It) plays the most dominant role in this entire facility."

An administration wing includes attendance, student services, guidance, principal offices and staff area.

Parking would be "quite hidden" from Second Line East on the property's west side.

"Parking becomes safer that way," said Sapounzi.

"You're not mixing kids and buses and parents. You park. You're done."

A drop-off area for parents and a bus queue that could accommodate 20 to 30 vehicles would be closer to the school.

St. Mary's College opened in 1956 on St. George's Avenue before moving to the former Lakeway Collegiate on Wellington Street East in 1987.

On the web: www.hscdsb.on.ca

b.kelly@sunmedia.ca

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