FORSETH – Why not standardize designs for schools and other govt facilities?

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU; however, it has always puzzled me that when any provincial facility is built such as schools, hospitals, and offices for government agencies, there ends up being multiple cost studies, requests to have plans submitted, construction expenses and budgets, and any number of other costly incidentals that add substantially to the final total to build.

Now comes an announcement that our provincial NDP government is initiating a ‘new Standardized Housing Design Project … (which will see) … new standardized, customizable residential designs for small-scale, multi-unit housing built on single lots.

The provincial government goes on to say, ‘These designs can be adopted by local governments and offered to builders and homeowners at a significantly below-market cost to expedite permitting and development.’

The end result is to see up to 10 standardized designs which the government says will lead to streamlining the permitting process so as to have building-permit approvals done more quickly, as well as saving the end user costs to develop and design projects.

Where else can that idea be used?  Why not incorporate the idea into the design of an elementary school, for example, with the following?

1) how many students equals how many classrooms,

2) gymnasium,

3) staff room,

4) library,

5) Reception office and principals’ office

6) music and/or art room

7) storage room(s)

8) learning centre

9) playing field

Given ALL schools will have these basic amenities, why is it not possible to have a basic modular design that encompasses these things for a variety of classroom sized needs?

Where I live here in Kamloops, a new school is on the books to be built in Pineview Valley, and a new school to replace the Parkcrest Elementary school facility, which was destroyed in a 2019 fire, is set to open next year.

I could not find any information available online, however I have to believe that a large cost was in place for design. So, I have to ask, ‘What direct provision of education tools and resources could that money have better been put to?’

Developing new housing quicker — and with less cost — is the goal of the new Standardized Housing Design Project.

NOW, let’s also see that applied that to ALL government facilities!

In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth.

Alan Forseth is a Kamloops resident. For 40 years he has been active, in a number of capacities, in local, provincial and federal politics, including running as a candidate for the BC Reform Party in the 1996 provincial election. He was involved in the BC Liberal leadership campaign and is now a member of the BC Conservative Party.