Britannia School #1

Britannia Secondary School was the second high school to be built in Vancouver — and now the oldest remaining high school in Vancouver.

The oldest part of the school was built in 1910 and designed by school board architect Norman Leech. Additions by E.D.King include a gymnasium and cafeteria, added in 1955. A later wing was also constructed in 1966/67. The building has morphed in style but retains a prominent cornice and contrasting red brick facing on the ground level and yellow brick on the upper storeys.
Britannia Secondary School has had many additions over the years to accommodate growth. Building “A” was seismically upgraded in 1992-94 and other seismic upgrades were completed in 2003.

Though not currently on the City of Vancouver’s Heritage Register, Britannia School added an elementary school and Britannia Community Services Centre between 1972-1975. The neighbourhood came together with the Vancouver School Board, Vancouver Public Library and the City of Vancouver to create a unique complex of educational, recreational and social amenities. It was designed by architects Downs/Archambault and included an elementary school, ice rink, pool, library and other amenities spaces all adjacent to the existing secondary school. A recent addition is the šxʷqʷeləwən ct Carving Centre at the Britannia Community Services Centre designed by architect Joe Wai; it recognizes the long use of the land by local First Nations and the current significant population of indigenous population (about 10%) in the area today.

Please check out the archival photographs in the Gallery section of this page.

Source

City of Vancouver Planning Dept, Britannia School website, VSB Planning and Facilities

More information

http://britannia.vsb.bc.ca/about_britannia/history.html