Fast Forward Timeline & Rationale

Timeline Date

Action

Result

Nov. 18, 2015

Board of Directors gives final approval of construction plans and budget

Project moves ahead

Dec. 2, 2015

Official announcement to parent community at Building Our Future event

Project and capital campaign becomes public to parents

Dec. 15, 2015

Alumni event

Announcement to alumni community

Jan. 22, 2016

York Parents Association morning parent meeting

Board Chair and Head of School present project details and The 1320 Challenge

Jan. 26, 2016

Official announcement to students following exams

Project is now public knowledge within the entire school community

Mar. 2016

Phase I

Construction begins

Parking lot off of Farnham Ave. closes

All pick up and drop off traffic re­routed through laneway just south of 1320 Yonge Street

Construction begins on temporary classroom space

Area under gym is fenced off and no longer accessible to students and vehicles. Turf remains open.

Junior and Middle/Senior School York Shop locations close

All uniform sales move online following the March Break

May 13, 2016

Annual Night on the Town

Annual parent event will include Fast Forward groundbreaking ceremony

June 2016

Phase II begins on second and third floors and on front facade

All staff relocated to 1639 Yonge Street or alternate location

Sept. 2016

Phase I opens

Classes and student activities commence on third and fourth floors. First and second floors remain closed.

PROJECT RATIONALE The York School is undergoing a capital building project to renovate the Middle and Senior School at 1320 Yonge Street. The impetus for this change is clear – the facilities at 1320 Yonge Street must be re­developed so we can continue to provide an exceptional educational experience and lead as a world­class International Baccalaureate continuum school. The ​ Fast Forward​ capital building project will begin in the spring of 2016 and will conclude in the fall of 2017.

FULFILL OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2015­2020 1320 Yonge Street was purchased in 1997. Our Strategic Plan for 2007­2012 identified a “Campus Master Plan” to address the needs of our growing school community, resulting in the opening of our Junior School in 2010. In 2014, our 20/20 Vision Strategic Plan identified a pressing need to improve our facilities at 1320 Yonge Street.

BUILD A PROGRESSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT As progressive educators, we must create a Middle and Senior School space that is flexible, collaborative and reflective of our approach to teaching. All four floors of 1320 Yonge Street have been re­designed with the goal of unifying subject areas and providing cohesive and accessible office spaces. New areas will have been designed to accommodate flexible use throughout the day, building a greater culture of openness and collaboration at 1320 Yonge Street.

PROMOTE STUDENT AND STAFF WELLNESS A number of common area improvements will facilitate our community’s focus on wellness.

Students and parents will have space to meet and interact in a central Gathering Place. A new Learning Commons will seamlessly integrate the school entrance with a wired research and study hub. Our Cafeteria will move from the basement to a light­filled, ground floor study space and cafe. Small breakout spaces and study areas will offer greater flexibility than traditional classrooms. The student Wellness Centre will be accessible to parents, staff and students at the centre of our first floor, and the Gladiator Fitness Centre will increase exercise space by 4,000 square feet.