Citadel High School
Encyclopedia
Citadel High School is a Canadian
high school
located in Halifax, Nova Scotia
.
The school opened in September 2007 on the site of the former Bell Road Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College
. Its location bordering Bell Road, Trollope Street, and Ahern Avenue is adjacent to the Halifax Common
and immediately west of Citadel Hill, a National Historic Site from which the school derives its name.
Citadel High replaced two older schools: Queen Elizabeth High
and Saint Patrick's High
, opened in 1942 and 1955 respectively.
The planned construction of the new school was initially announced by the Province of Nova Scotia on 12 June 2003. Designed to replace Queen Elizabeth High School
and St. Patrick's High School
, the school would be located on the site of the Halifax campus of the NSCC
, which would subsequently be relocated to a new facility on the Dartmouth waterfront. On 31 March 2005, the HRSB
announced the new name of the school, "Citadel", which was selected in a vote among other suggestions including "Halifax Central", "Willow Tree" (for the nearby traffic interchange of the same name), and "Vince Coleman
" (for the Halifax Explosion
hero immortalized in a Heritage Minute
). There was also a motion to name the school after Anna Leonowens
, who helped found NSCAD in 1887.
Construction began in the Spring of 2006, following the destruction of the old community college. The school began operation in September 2007, and was officially opened by Premier Rodney MacDonald
and Minister of Education Karen Casey
in November of that year. The building was designed by the architectural
firm of Fowler, Bauld & Mitchell, and built by Pomerleau Construction.
The school contains two gymnasiums, one of which is located in the community centre
section of the school, operated by the municipal recreation department. The community centre was incorporated into the project because the original school proposal did not include a second gymnasium (nor an auditorium), much to the concern of community members. The HRSB
and the HRM recreation department entered into a partnership so that the two entities could share facilities: the school got its second gymnasium and the community centre has access to school classrooms on evenings and weekends. Aside from the gym, the community centre also contains dedicated activity rooms.
During the 2011 Canada Games, Citadel High served a competition venue for wheelchair basketball
and table tennis. The newly opened Spatz Theatre was also used, for the National Artist Program Gala.
, Halifax Grammar School
, and Prince Andrew High School
. QEH and St. Pat's offered Pre-IB courses in 2006-2007 to Grade 10 students preparing for the IB program at Citadel High.
Continuing in the tradition of the former St. Pat's, Citadel offers French immersion
courses in many subjects, and through meeting certain credit requirements students may obtain the official provincial French Immersion Certificate at graduation.
Uniquely the school also promotes Nova Scotian Gaelic language studies through several courses as well as a student society called An Dùn ("the fort", in reference to the school's name). Events and concerts are held regularly. This program was introduced with help from the Department of Education
amidst a renewed interest in Gaelic culture in Nova Scotia.
lab, family studies kitchen and sewing facilities, two art rooms, and a drama
room adjoining the newly opened auditorium, the Spatz Theatre. The school is fully accessible
, incorporating an elevator that was formerly installed at St. Pat's. Fire safety features include ceiling-mounted strobe lights and multiple stairwell areas of refuge
on each floor that isolate themselves as fireproof doors close automatically during a fire and may only be opened from one direction.
The new school includes the 980 square metres (10,548.6 sq ft) Wilson's Gymnasium, named after the Wilson Fuel Co. which made a large donation towards the completion of the school theatre. The second gymnasium, the Bob Douglas Community Gymnasium, is named after a former teacher and coach at the two predecessor high schools as well as a 1994 inductee to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
. The motion to name the gym in his honour was spearheaded by two former students. Douglas passed away in 2008.
The 450 square metres (4,843.8 sq ft) cafeteria is called the Portia White
Atrium, named after a Nova Scotian singer who achieved international fame and performed for Queen Elizabeth II
, was featured on a postage stamp, and is the namesake of the Portia White Prize
, awarded to established artists within the province. It is a soaring, airy, glass-clad structure that also serves as the entrance to the auditorium. It is topped by a green roof
, visible from Citadel Hill.
The 280 square metres (3,013.9 sq ft) school library is named after the Kinsmen
, who also made a large donation towards the auditorium completion. It currently contains about 10,000 books as well as 15 computers available to students.
A shell was built at the time of construction for the roughed-in auditorium, which was completed in early 2011. The theatre was first used for the National Artist Program Gala, as a part of the 2011 Canada Games.
The theatre has been named the Spatz Theatre, after the Spatz family who donated money to the theatre.
Built-in furniture, cabinetry, wall paneling, and much of the other interior finishing was custom designed by Chandlers Millwork of Charlottetown
and does not contain urea formaldehyde
, commonly used in wood products. Tables and chairs were furnished by Ven-Rez Products of Shelburne
.
Sandstone banding integrated into the brickwork of the new school was salvaged from the facade of St. Pat's, which was removed earlier as the anchoring for the cladding had deteriorated and became a safety hazard. Bleacher seating from the gymnasium at St. Pat's has been refinished to accommodate an additional 300 spectators in the new gymnasium.
Approximately 3500 glass blocks salvaged from the former community college has become part of the wall in the gymnasium and the original wooden main entry, which includes beveled glass, has become the entrance of the new school's library.
(LEED) Silver certification. This "green building" rating system emphasizes sensible land-use, energy efficiency, and comfort. Examples of LEED elements in the project include the field sod roof of the cafeteria (a green roof
), collected rainwater used for flushing toilets, extensive use of construction materials with recycled content, use of Low-E
glazing and a reflective white ThermoPlastic Olefin
roof membrane.
artist Dawn MacNutt, was installed in the main foyer in early 2008. Entitled Together We Stand, it is suspended in the 3-storey atrium at the axis of the building and is made of steel wiring with leaves of aluminized polyester woven in Switzerland
. Works of similar construction by the same artist can be found at Alderney Landing
. The piece was originally located in the lobby of the Infirmary building at the nearby Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
until renovations there necessitated its donation to the school.
The walls along the school corridors are lined with a single band of porcelain square tiles, each featuring a small drawing done in raised paint, by students of St. Pat's and QEH during the 2006–2007 school year. Also, FTW.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
The school opened in September 2007 on the site of the former Bell Road Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College
Nova Scotia Community College
The Nova Scotia Community College, commonly referred to as the NSCC, is a community college serving the province of Nova Scotia.The college delivers a diverse program of trades, technology, health, human services, applied arts, new media, business administration and adult education through a system...
. Its location bordering Bell Road, Trollope Street, and Ahern Avenue is adjacent to the Halifax Common
Halifax Common
The Halifax Common, in local popular usage more often referred to as the Commons, is a Canadian urban park in the community of Halifax in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality...
and immediately west of Citadel Hill, a National Historic Site from which the school derives its name.
Citadel High replaced two older schools: Queen Elizabeth High
Queen Elizabeth High School (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Queen Elizabeth High School was established in September 1942, at the corner of Bell Road and Robie Street, on Camp Hill, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "QEH" was always known for its high academic standards, competitive sports teams and distinguished extra-curricular activities such as the annual Model...
and Saint Patrick's High
St. Patrick's High School (Halifax)
St. Patrick's High School was a non-denominational school centrally located on Quinpool Road in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Historically a Roman Catholic public school, St. Pat's was located less than one block from its rival non-denominational public school, Queen Elizabeth High...
, opened in 1942 and 1955 respectively.
History
Queen Elizabeth High School (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Queen Elizabeth High School was established in September 1942, at the corner of Bell Road and Robie Street, on Camp Hill, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "QEH" was always known for its high academic standards, competitive sports teams and distinguished extra-curricular activities such as the annual Model...
and St. Patrick's High School
St. Patrick's High School (Halifax)
St. Patrick's High School was a non-denominational school centrally located on Quinpool Road in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Historically a Roman Catholic public school, St. Pat's was located less than one block from its rival non-denominational public school, Queen Elizabeth High...
, the school would be located on the site of the Halifax campus of the NSCC
Nova Scotia Community College
The Nova Scotia Community College, commonly referred to as the NSCC, is a community college serving the province of Nova Scotia.The college delivers a diverse program of trades, technology, health, human services, applied arts, new media, business administration and adult education through a system...
, which would subsequently be relocated to a new facility on the Dartmouth waterfront. On 31 March 2005, the HRSB
Halifax Regional School Board
The Halifax Regional School Board is the public school board responsible for 137 elementary, junior high, and high schools located within the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. The current Superintendent of the HRSB is Carole Olsen, who has held the position since 2002...
announced the new name of the school, "Citadel", which was selected in a vote among other suggestions including "Halifax Central", "Willow Tree" (for the nearby traffic interchange of the same name), and "Vince Coleman
Vince Coleman (train dispatcher)
P. Vincent Coleman was a train dispatcher for the Canadian Government Railways who was killed in the Halifax Explosion...
" (for the Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
hero immortalized in a Heritage Minute
Heritage Minute
Heritage Minutes, also known officially as Historica Minutes: History by the Minute, are sixty-second short films, each illustrating an important moment in Canadian history. They appear frequently on Canadian television and in cinemas before movies...
). There was also a motion to name the school after Anna Leonowens
Anna Leonowens
Anna Leonowens was an English travel writer, educator, and social activist. She worked in Siam from 1862 to 1868, where she taught the wives and children of Mongkut, king of Siam. She also co-founded the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design...
, who helped found NSCAD in 1887.
Rodney MacDonald
Rodney Joseph MacDonald is a Canadian politician, educator and musician who served as the 26th Premier of Nova Scotia from 2006 to 2009 and as MLA for the riding of Inverness in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1999 to 2009....
and Minister of Education Karen Casey
Karen Casey
Karen Casey is a Canadian politician. She currently represents the electoral district of Colchester North in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. She is a member of the Liberal caucus....
in November of that year. The building was designed by the architectural
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
firm of Fowler, Bauld & Mitchell, and built by Pomerleau Construction.
The school contains two gymnasiums, one of which is located in the community centre
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
section of the school, operated by the municipal recreation department. The community centre was incorporated into the project because the original school proposal did not include a second gymnasium (nor an auditorium), much to the concern of community members. The HRSB
Halifax Regional School Board
The Halifax Regional School Board is the public school board responsible for 137 elementary, junior high, and high schools located within the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. The current Superintendent of the HRSB is Carole Olsen, who has held the position since 2002...
and the HRM recreation department entered into a partnership so that the two entities could share facilities: the school got its second gymnasium and the community centre has access to school classrooms on evenings and weekends. Aside from the gym, the community centre also contains dedicated activity rooms.
During the 2011 Canada Games, Citadel High served a competition venue for wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball at the 2011 Canada Winter Games
Wheelchair basketball at the 2011 Canada Winter Games was held at Citadel High School in Halifax.The tournament will be held during the first week between February 13 and 17, 2011...
and table tennis. The newly opened Spatz Theatre was also used, for the National Artist Program Gala.
Academics
The new school offers courses for the International Baccalaureate program adding to the schools in the Halifax area that offer the IB program. Other schools in the Halifax area with the IB program are Halifax West High SchoolHalifax West High School
Halifax West High School is a Canadian public high school located in the Clayton Park neighbourhood in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia...
, Halifax Grammar School
Halifax Grammar School
The Halifax Grammar School is a private, coeducational day school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is located in south-end Halifax, near Saint Mary's University. It has a student population of approximately 500, and at the high school level follows the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program...
, and Prince Andrew High School
Prince Andrew High School
Prince Andrew High School is a Canadian public school, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It is operated by the Halifax Regional School Board and is now an International Baccalaureate world school, offering the Diploma program...
. QEH and St. Pat's offered Pre-IB courses in 2006-2007 to Grade 10 students preparing for the IB program at Citadel High.
Continuing in the tradition of the former St. Pat's, Citadel offers French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
courses in many subjects, and through meeting certain credit requirements students may obtain the official provincial French Immersion Certificate at graduation.
Uniquely the school also promotes Nova Scotian Gaelic language studies through several courses as well as a student society called An Dùn ("the fort", in reference to the school's name). Events and concerts are held regularly. This program was introduced with help from the Department of Education
Nova Scotia Department of Education
The Nova Scotia Department of Education is a department of the Government of Nova Scotia responsible for overseeing education institutions in the province...
amidst a renewed interest in Gaelic culture in Nova Scotia.
Facilities
The school contains over 60 teaching spaces: classrooms, laboratories for biology, physics, and chemistry, computer labs, a woodworkingWoodworking
Woodworking is the process of building, making or carving something using wood.-History:Along with stone, mud, and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked by early humans. Microwear analysis of the Mousterian stone tools used by the Neanderthals show that many were used to work wood...
lab, family studies kitchen and sewing facilities, two art rooms, and a drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
room adjoining the newly opened auditorium, the Spatz Theatre. The school is fully accessible
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
, incorporating an elevator that was formerly installed at St. Pat's. Fire safety features include ceiling-mounted strobe lights and multiple stairwell areas of refuge
Area of refuge
An area of refuge is a location in a building designed to hold occupants during a fire or other emergency, when evacuation may not be safe or possible. Occupants can wait there until rescued by firefighters...
on each floor that isolate themselves as fireproof doors close automatically during a fire and may only be opened from one direction.
The new school includes the 980 square metres (10,548.6 sq ft) Wilson's Gymnasium, named after the Wilson Fuel Co. which made a large donation towards the completion of the school theatre. The second gymnasium, the Bob Douglas Community Gymnasium, is named after a former teacher and coach at the two predecessor high schools as well as a 1994 inductee to the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
The Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1964, to honor outstanding athletes, teams and sport builders in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The facilities are located at the World Trade and Convention Centre in the provincial capital city of Halifax.-External links:* website...
. The motion to name the gym in his honour was spearheaded by two former students. Douglas passed away in 2008.
The 450 square metres (4,843.8 sq ft) cafeteria is called the Portia White
Portia White
Portia May White , was a singer who achieved international fame because of her voice and stage presence. As a Black Canadian, her popularity helped to open previously closed doors for talented blacks who followed....
Atrium, named after a Nova Scotian singer who achieved international fame and performed for Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, was featured on a postage stamp, and is the namesake of the Portia White Prize
Portia White Prize
The Portia White Prize is the largest prize of its type awarded by the Province of Nova Scotia and is named for Portia White, a Nova Scotian artist who rose through adversity to achieve international acclaim as a classical singer on the stages of Europe and North America...
, awarded to established artists within the province. It is a soaring, airy, glass-clad structure that also serves as the entrance to the auditorium. It is topped by a green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
, visible from Citadel Hill.
The 280 square metres (3,013.9 sq ft) school library is named after the Kinsmen
Kin Canada
Kin Canada is a secular Canadian non-profit service organization that promotes service, fellowship, positive values, and national pride....
, who also made a large donation towards the auditorium completion. It currently contains about 10,000 books as well as 15 computers available to students.
A shell was built at the time of construction for the roughed-in auditorium, which was completed in early 2011. The theatre was first used for the National Artist Program Gala, as a part of the 2011 Canada Games.
The theatre has been named the Spatz Theatre, after the Spatz family who donated money to the theatre.
Built-in furniture, cabinetry, wall paneling, and much of the other interior finishing was custom designed by Chandlers Millwork of Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
and does not contain urea formaldehyde
Urea-formaldehyde
Urea-formaldehyde, also known as urea-methanal, named so for its common synthesis pathway and overall structure, is a non-transparent thermosetting resin or plastic, made from urea and formaldehyde heated in the presence of a mild base such as ammonia or pyridine...
, commonly used in wood products. Tables and chairs were furnished by Ven-Rez Products of Shelburne
Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Shelburne is a town located in southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the shire town of Shelburne County.-History:-Settlers:...
.
Other features
Architectural vestiges
Citadel High School incorporates some architectural elements of the two high schools and the former community college. Six bas-relief sandstone carvings which were located at the entrances of QEH were installed in the new cafeteria. The carvings depict school-related activities such as science, sports, drama, and history. The new school also features four new sandstone carvings which were done by students of Citadel.Sandstone banding integrated into the brickwork of the new school was salvaged from the facade of St. Pat's, which was removed earlier as the anchoring for the cladding had deteriorated and became a safety hazard. Bleacher seating from the gymnasium at St. Pat's has been refinished to accommodate an additional 300 spectators in the new gymnasium.
Approximately 3500 glass blocks salvaged from the former community college has become part of the wall in the gymnasium and the original wooden main entry, which includes beveled glass, has become the entrance of the new school's library.
Environmental sustainability
An effort is being made to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental DesignLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) Silver certification. This "green building" rating system emphasizes sensible land-use, energy efficiency, and comfort. Examples of LEED elements in the project include the field sod roof of the cafeteria (a green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
), collected rainwater used for flushing toilets, extensive use of construction materials with recycled content, use of Low-E
Low-emissivity
Low emissivity - actually low thermal emissivity - is a quality of a surface that radiates, or emits, low levels of radiant thermal energy. All materials absorb, reflect and emit radiant energy...
glazing and a reflective white ThermoPlastic Olefin
ThermoPlastic Olefin
Thermoplastic PolyOlefin is a trade name that refers to polymer/filler blends usually consisting of some fraction of PP , PE , BCPP , rubber, and a reinforcing filler. Common fillers include, though are not restricted to talc, fiberglass, carbon fiber, wollastonite, and MOS...
roof membrane.
Artworks
A 20 feet (6.1 m) tall stainless steel tree, a sculpture by DartmouthDartmouth, Nova Scotia
Dartmouth founded in 1750, is a community and planning area of the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has been nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city.On April 1, 1996, the provincial...
artist Dawn MacNutt, was installed in the main foyer in early 2008. Entitled Together We Stand, it is suspended in the 3-storey atrium at the axis of the building and is made of steel wiring with leaves of aluminized polyester woven in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Works of similar construction by the same artist can be found at Alderney Landing
Alderney Landing
Alderney Landing is a convention centre, art gallery, market, and theatre facility in Downtown Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It was opened in May, 1999...
. The piece was originally located in the lobby of the Infirmary building at the nearby Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a large teaching hospital affiliated with Dalhousie University. Administratively it is part of the Capital District Health Authority.-History:...
until renovations there necessitated its donation to the school.
The walls along the school corridors are lined with a single band of porcelain square tiles, each featuring a small drawing done in raised paint, by students of St. Pat's and QEH during the 2006–2007 school year. Also, FTW.