Seismic replacement: new school for Argyle Secondary in North Vancouver

The province announced today that Argyle Secondary a school in North Vancouver thatwas deemed likely to sustain serious damage during an earthquake will be replaced.

Government officials say the $45.7 million investment will be used to build a seismically safe school. About $37 million will come from the provincial government and the rest will be paid for by the school district.

The new building will bebuilt on the school's existing playing field with a capacity to accommodate1,200 Grade 8 to 12 students.

Once construction is complete, the existing buildings will be demolished.

Construction is expected to start in 2017.

"I'm very pleased that the commitment from the school board to work with our government means we will now have a seismically safe, state-of-the-art facility," said JaneThornthwaite, MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour.

Approval for seismic upgradefunding was announced in 2012 but the school district had been pushing for a complete rebuild of the school since then.