Jesse Hove
The Drumheller Mail

Plans for the construction of the new St. Anthony’s school are one step closer to being completed.
The floor plans are finished. The next step needed is approval from infastructure on the final schematic designs. Alberta Infrastructure met with the school board Thursday, April 24, and is expected to make its decision over the next two weeks.
“If we get this approval, construction drawings will be completed over the summer, and we hope to go to tender in June. If all these hurdles are cleared, construction can begin in the fall,” said deputy superintendent of Christ the Redemeer Catholic School Division Micheal O’Brien.
In order to get approval, St. Anthony's has to show they can fit the project into their building fund.
“This approval will be based on our ability to demonstrate the school can be built with an appropriate cost effective budget,” said O'Brien.
For Grade 12 students graduating from St. Anthony's this year, the news is nice for their younger siblings and friends, but comes just a little too late for them.
“The plans look beautiful,” said Grade 12 student Jobi Lucas. “It's just too bad we won’t get to go there.”
Jobi’s friend Leslie Hotel agrees. “A few years ago we were under the impression we might get a chance to go there,” said Hotel. “I will be excited if my friends and family get to go though.”
The school was designed by Gibbs Gage Architects and design consultant Barry Johns. Johns who designed the building's exterior, has won over 40 awards throughout North America, Britain, Japan, and China.
Johns was chosen because of his ability to work with unique landscapes like the one St. Anthony’s will be built around.
The purpose of John’s design for the school is to make it an “interpretation of the hills behind it rather than an imitation of them.”
The school will be built just off North Dinosaur Trail, west of the hospital on the north side of the road.
Paul Andrew, who is the Catholic school trustee for the Drumheller area, says the school will be much safer than the current school.
“There won’t be as many kids walking across the highway to the mall, because there is nothing that close to the school, which means more kids will stay at school,” said Andrew. However, Andrew does have one concern for when the school is built. “There is currently no school zone established for where the school is built. That will be something I will lobby for later on,” said Andrew.
One of the unique features of the school will be the Padua Hall which will contain a faith area, circulation area, an eating area, social area, and a theatre which will seat about 200 people. The Chapel will be a beautiful side room with full glass on three sides.
To get a better look at the hall you can go to www.redemeer.ab.ca.