B2L Partnership (B2L stands for Build to Learn) is the private partner consortium selected to design, build and finance 10 new schools in Calgary, Edmonton, Langdon and Okotoks, and maintain them for 30 years. The finance partners are Gracorp Capital Advisors Ltd. and HOCHTIEF Concessions AG. The industry partners who will design, build and maintain the schools include: Graham, Bird Construction Company, GEC Architecture, Gibbs Gage Architects, and Honeywell Limited (Canada).

The Government of Alberta followed a competitive bidding process to select the private industry partner. Proposals were rigorously evaluated for the private contractor’s financial, technical and organizational capacity to complete the project and to ensure bids provided Alberta taxpayers with good value for dollars spent. Based on this analysis, B2L Partnership was contracted to design, build, and finance the 10 new Alberta schools, and maintain them for 30 years.

On April 15, 2010, the Alberta government entered into a contract with B2L Partnership to design, build, finance and maintain for 30 years 10 K-4, 5-9 and K-9 new schools in Calgary, Edmonton, Langdon and Okotoks. These 10 new schools are scheduled to open in September 2012.

This same public-private partnership (P3) approach to providing schools was used for the first phase of ASAP and will result in 18 new schools open for students in September 2010.

The Government of Alberta defines P3s as an infrastructure project in which a private contractor:

• provides some or all of the financing for the project;
• designs and builds the project, often providing operations and maintenance for the project, and often backed by an “extended warranty”; and
• receives payments from government over an extended period of time, subject to deductions for failing to meet contractually defined performance standards.

There are a number of benefits to using a P3 approach for building these 10 schools including:

Economies of Scale

• one contractor is responsible for building all schools
• a fixed construction price is guaranteed
• the school delivery (completion) date is guaranteed
• risks are transferred to the contractor after tender (examples include inflation in construction costs, and weather-related delays)

Value to taxpayers
Through this P3 approach, the 10 new ASAP schools will be provided at a savings of $105 million to Alberta taxpayers. In addition, the schools will not require government funding for infrastructure maintenance and renewal as these costs are built into the contract.

Schools completed faster
10 new schools will open in communities with high-priority school infrastructure needs two years sooner than if traditional construction methods were used.

30 year maintenance warranty
A key benefit of the made-in-Alberta ASAP P3 is the 30 year maintenance warranty which ensures students and communities will have a school that is guaranteed to be in good condition 30 years after it opens.

For each project, the Government of Alberta looks at the best way to deliver the best product to meet Albertans’ needs. In the case of the ASAP II schools, the government’s analysis determined that the best way to efficiently and cost-effectively deliver a large number of much needed new schools was through a P3 approach.

The government will continue to work closely with, and consult with, school boards to ensure the ASAP II school facilities meet the needs of students, teachers and communities.

The ASAP II schools are being built in Alberta communities with high-priority school infrastructure needs. Specific school sites were determined in consultation with the project school boards: Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Catholic School District, Edmonton Public Schools, Foothills School Division and Rocky View Schools.

Calgary Schools
Edmonton Schools
Langdon School
Okotoks School

New school construction in other areas of the province continues to be a priority and will be addressed through the government’s capital planning process. The Government of Alberta is looking at a variety of strategies to address school infrastructure needs.

The government remains committed to the Class Size Initiative.  Funding for the small class size initiative is now in its fourth school year and is an ongoing financial commitment by government to school jurisdictions.

When it comes to class sizes, schools and boards have the flexibility to organize classrooms in a manner that supports parent and student educational choices.  This means that some class sizes will be higher and some will be lower than the recommended averages.  The government does not specify a maximum class size because there are no “one size fits all” solutions.

The ASAP II P3 schools will be complemented by high-performance modular classrooms that can be moved from school to school, which allows jurisdictions to increase or decrease capacity if student enrolments fluctuate.

High-performance modular classrooms look like permanent classrooms on the inside with painted drywall, drop ceilings and large windows. Like the core school building, the high-performance modular classrooms are designed for improved health and comfort of students and teachers, and are wired to meet technology needs. While being an integral part of the core school when population demands require a larger facility, the high-performance modular classrooms have the added advantage of being re-locatable.

Built to provincial standards, the innovative core schools feature a core building that includes the essentials such as a gymnasium, library, administrative offices and individual spaces for music, art and science. High-performance modular classrooms can be added or subtracted to the core building to allow school boards the flexibility to adjust to changing student enrolments and program needs.

Standard core school designs provide equitable facilities that meet provincial school standards and guidelines, and support the Alberta curriculum. The core school design reduces design times, improves the efficiency of construction and realizes a savings of about 22% in maintenance, renewal and plant operations. The core school designs are also easily adaptable to different sites across the province.

All ASAP II schools will use standard core school designs, meet provincial construction standards, and will be built to achieve (at a minimum) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, an independent rating system used to measure environmental and energy efficiency. LEED Silver-rated buildings are up to 45 percent more energy efficient than conventional buildings and provide healthier environments as a result of improved air quality and the use of natural light.

High-performance modular classrooms are also designed and constructed to meet LEED Silver standards when attached to a LEED Silver certified school.

The 10 new ASAP II P3 schools will be open for students by September 2012.

The 10 new ASAP II P3 schools will provide space for almost 8,000 students.

The new ASAP II P3 schools will be owned, controlled and operated by the school boards, just as all schools are now. Use and access to the new schools will be managed like existing schools.

Yes. Programs such as before- and after-school care and the use of gymnasiums, meetings rooms and classrooms for evening and weekend athletic activities and community events can all be accommodated, as they are generally covered by joint-use agreements.

It is the jurisdiction’s decision whether or not to make these facilities available for community uses outside of its traditional joint-use agreement. School boards will assume or be responsible for all associated risks through such an arrangement.

B2L Partnership will maintain and renew the schools under a 30 year maintenance warranty. Any replacement required of building fabric or equipment (e.g., roof or boiler) is included in the contract. Every five years, the facilities will be evaluated by the Alberta government to ensure each structure remains in good condition. If the maintenance of the facilities is unsatisfactory, B2L Partnership will be subject to financial penalty.

At the end of the 30 year term, B2L Partnership will leave students, teachers and communities with schools guaranteed to be in good condition.

You can make a specific enquiry by calling our toll free number: 1-877-726-3284 or by filling out our online contact form

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