The province announced this month that Delta Secondary was included in the latest list of schools to receive funding for seismic upgrades.
The Ladner high school is to receive just over $18 million for various earthquake-proofing works, including its attached Genesis Theatre. It was part of an announcement by Premier Christy Clark that $584 million will be committed to seismically upgrade 45 high-risk schools.
The School Seismic Mitigation Program is an ongoing initiative to address all high-risk school buildings. The province notes that with the 45 new projects, a total of 213 schools have either been completed, are under construction, are proceeding to construction, or have been supported through the program. That leaves 102 high-priority schools to be addressed.
The province says engineers and geoscientists have completed a comprehensive re-assessment of seismic safety at B.C. schools based on the latest scientific research, improved technology and study of recent major earthquakes around the world. Engineers re-evaluated more than 500 schools previously identified for potential funding.
A seismic structural risk rating was assigned to each Schools that have a high-risk rating (High 1, High 2 or High 3) will be structurally upgraded as part of the mitigation program.
According to the rating, Delta Secondary's mechanical and woodshop, as well as the art wing and music rooms, are listed as High 1. Those areas have "the highest risk of structural damage and widespread failure." The theatre is rated just under that, but is still a "vulnerable structure" at High 2. Some other areas that are listed as "Low" will also get upgrades.
The province announced $10 million for seismic upgrades at South Delta Secondary in Tsawwassen last month.
