HDR has supported the Victoria School District (SD 61) for over 15 years in the bringing the former glory back to this iconic historic high school in Fernwood.

Projects included the 207,500 SF historic restoration and seismic upgrade of Victoria High School as well as a 17,500 SF addition. A major element of the current project includes maintaining the historic façade and lobby of the main building, while seismically upgrading the facility to meet rigorous building code requirements. Particular attention has been paid to document and catalog heritage aspects of the building, so they can be safely removed, stored, and re-installed or repaired and replaced appropriately in the final building. To maintain maximum amounts of existing interior spaces and to hide structural reinforcing, a number of innovative solutions were derived. By removing all interior clay-tile shafts and partitions, existing floors will now be tied into two new exterior stair towers using concrete and steel drag struts.

These, coupled with strategically placed concrete shear walls within the building, leaving the floor plates open enabling new learning spaces to be arranged with 21st century learning in mind.  This approach also leaves the exterior façade and interior areas of significant heritage value such as the traditional main lobby and auditorium, free of evidence of seismic improvements, maintaining the heritage character.