About
Classroom Building (1929) and Classroom Block (1959)
In 1929, only two years after the School was rebuilt after the fire, a new, separate Classroom Building was built. It was designed by architect Douglas James, who also designed the Main Building. The Classroom Building was situated perpendicular to the NW corner of the Bruce-Lockhart Centre for Creativity (formerly known as the Hobbies Building). It was a three-story building containing 24 rooms: classrooms, an art room, laboratories for physics, chemistry, and biology, and a lecture theatre. It had three entrance doors opening into a two-story foyer flanked by open stairwells on each side. Of note were two large murals painted in 1934 by well-known Vancouver artist, Julius Griffith ’25, on the walls at the top of the staircase.
One night in October 1958, it was discovered that the Classroom Building was on fire. The fire department was called immediately, but the building was totally engulfed by the time they arrived. Seeing that the Classroom Building was doomed, all efforts went into saving the adjacent buildings. The Rifle Range – full of ammunition – was only 10 feet away, the Hobby Shop, only 20 feet away to the south-east, and the Chapel, only 40 feet to the north. With great effort, staff and senior boys emptied the west end of the Hobbies Building, bringing out machinery, pianos, photography equipment, and anything else that could be carried. As for the surrounding buildings, roofs were damaged, and windows were gone, but the buildings remained intact. It is interesting to note that the southeast corner of the Classroom Building foundation still exists, hidden under ivy near the Hobbies Building. There is now a large chestnut tree growing just inside the foundation corner.
Construction of the new Classroom Block began in January 1959. Situated at the top of the hill west of the first classroom building, it contained 12 classrooms, laboratories for physics, chemistry, and biology, and special rooms for geography and art. Perhaps with fire safety in mind, the building was constructed of concrete blocks. The exterior was covered in stucco with cedar siding. The building was completed by Closing Day, 1959 – furnished by desks and chairs built by staff and students.
It was determined decades later that the Classroom Block did not meet updated codes for earthquake safety. Therefore, it was demolished in 2002, and classes moved to the new Olsen Building (opened Oct. 2002), the Shaw Centre, and the expanded Craig Building.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
Construction of the new Classroom Block began in January 1959. Situated at the top of the hill west of the first classroom building, it contained 12 classrooms, laboratories for physics, chemistry, and biology, and special rooms for geography and art. Perhaps with fire safety in mind, the building was constructed of concrete blocks. The exterior was covered in stucco with cedar siding. The building was completed by Closing Day, 1959 – furnished by desks and chairs built by staff and students.
It was determined decades later that the Classroom Block did not meet updated codes for earthquake safety. Therefore, it was demolished in 2002, and classes moved to the new Olsen Building (opened Oct. 2002), the Shaw Centre, and the expanded Craig Building.
The information presented in this write-up is based on current information available in the School's Archives and consultation with key people who have some relevant connection to this "object." If you have further information about this "object" that you would like to contribute, please contact the School’s Advancement Office at alumni@shawnigan.ca.
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Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
