Rainbow District School Board officially opens MacLeod Public School

Rainbow District School Board marked another chapter in the revitalization of Rainbow Schools with the official opening of the new MacLeod Public School on Wednesday, September 10, 2014.  MacLeod Public School is the Board’s third green school.

“MacLeod Public School is a tangible symbol of our commitment to students and sustainability, providing excellence in education in quality facilities,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “With support from the Ministry of Education, we have developed a bright, modern environment for teaching and learning.”

“There are many benefits to building high performance facilities,” added Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “Green schools protect the natural environment, decrease energy consumption and operating expenses, and nurture a culture of conservation. Above all, they provide an exceptional place for students and staff.”

The construction of the new MacLeod Public School began in the spring of 2012. The school opened for partial occupancy for Early Learning – Kindergarten to Grade 2 students on March 17, 2014.  Students from Grade 3 to Grade 8 joined them when classes resumed on September 3, 2014.

The school accommodates close to 600 students in approximately 60,000 square feet. The play area for children has been expanded to approximately 174,000 square feet, including a soccer field. MacLeod Public School has toddler and pre-school care, providing a seamless transition into Early Learning – Kindergarten. It also has a Best Start Hub and offers facilities for community use.

The main entrance of the school is located on Walford Road. A separate bus layby from Laval Street to Walford Road has greatly improved traffic flow in the area. There are also 93 parking spaces on site.

Green features include displacement ventilation and heat recovery systems, radiant floor heating, high insulation values in windows, walls and floors, energy efficient plumbing and lighting fixtures, and state-of-the-art technology. The roof has been constructed to allow for the installation of solar panels at a later date.

Green Features:

Displacement ventilation improves the indoor air quality. The system brings 100 per cent outdoor air into the school. Any air pollutants generated within the building are removed at the source and are not re-circulated.

The heating distribution is provided via radiant in floor heating, which enhances comfort in the classroom.

Superior window, floor and roof insulation increases thermal performance of the building by approximately 50 per cent, compared to conventional facilities.

Energy efficient fixtures in all washrooms help conserve water use. With waterless urinals, a biodegradable liquid cleans the waste in the drain system.

When rooms are not in use, occupancy sensors automatically shut lights off, resulting in significant energy savings. The building is also designed to take advantage of natural daylight from the floor to ceiling windows in the foyer, to the huge windows in the above ground classrooms. 

Every classroom from Grade 1 to Grade 8 is equipped with a 60-inch television, Apple TV and an iPad, allowing students and staff to access a wealth of 21st Century learning applications. The school also has a portable lab with 30 MacBooks. An iPad lab will be purchased this fall.

Fast Facts:

Engineer and Architect: JL Richards and Associates Ltd.
Construction Manager: Ameresco
Project cost: $17 million
Address: 23 Walford Road, Sudbury
Phone: 705-522-8040

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor, 
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning, 
Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.