Rendering of the Blackfalds High School based on conceptual designs. (Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Construction To Start in 2022

New Blackfalds high school to move ahead through P3 partnership

Oct 1, 2021 | 3:41 PM

A new high school for Blackfalds is one of five new high schools across the province moving ahead through a public-private partnership (P3).

Government officials anticipate the P3 partnerships to save Alberta taxpayers $114.5 million, support 1,678 jobs and provide about 7,000 new student spaces as part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan.

Following what was described as a comprehensive, competitive procurement process, the Alberta government has awarded the P3 contract to Concert-Bird Partners. Concert-Bird Partners will design, build and finance the five new high schools in Blackfalds, Langdon, Leduc and Edmonton, where two will be located. As part of the P3 contract, Concert-Bird Partners will also maintain the new school facilities for 30 years.

“This P3 schools project is saving taxpayers money and furthering Alberta’s Recovery Plan to diversify and create jobs by boosting the economy and supporting 1,678 construction-related jobs in communities around the province,” said Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure, in a press release Wednesday. “In just a few short years, these state-of-the-art schools will open their doors to thousands of Alberta students.”

“We made a promise to build world-class schools and that’s exactly what we are doing,” added Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education. “Alberta’s government is committed to investing in the future of this great province by providing modern schools in which our students can learn and grow. I am proud that these five construction projects will provide excellent new learning environments for about 7,000 students.”

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“The Concert-Bird Partners team is excited to partner with Alberta’s government through the P3 model to deliver leading modern, safe and caring high schools on time and on budget,” said Ian Podmore, project lead, Concert-Bird Partners. “This important public infrastructure project will strengthen the economic and social fabric of Alberta communities for years to come.”

Quick facts

• The P3 selection process is based on the net present value (NPV) of the project or the total value of all aspects of the project expressed in today’s dollars. Concert-Bird Partners had the lowest bid price at $300.3 million (NPV), saving Alberta taxpayers $114.5 million compared to government’s cost of $414.8 million (NPV) for doing the same work using traditional delivery methods.
• School planning and design work will begin immediately on the five P3 schools. Construction is expected to begin on the Edmonton southeast high school this fall, with construction on the other schools starting by summer 2022.
• The five new high schools included in the P3 bundle are anticipated to open in September 2024 with a total student capacity of about 7,000 students.
  • Blackfalds – Grade 9-12 school, Wolf Creek Public Schools
  • Edmonton – Grade 10-12 school in the southeast, Edmonton Public Schools
  • Edmonton – Grade 10-12 school in Heritage Valley, Edmonton Catholic Schools
  • Langdon – Grade 7-12 school, Rocky View Schools
  • Leduc – Grade 10-12 school, Black Gold School Division
  • The Concert-Bird Partners consortium consists of:
    • Project Lead and Financing
    • Concert Infrastructure Ltd.
    • Bird Capital Limited Partnership
  • Design and Build
    • BR2 Architecture
    • Bird Design-Build Construction Inc.
    • Wright Construction Western Inc.
  • Maintenance
    • Ainsworth Inc.

Forty other schools in Alberta are said to have been successfully delivered by P3, saving taxpayers $245 million over the cost of delivering these schools through traditional government methods.