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Hon Walwyn reveals proposed design for ESHS building on FB

- Residents share mixed reactions
The proposed design for the auditorium/cafeteria/gymnasium at the Elmore Stoutt High School as revealed on Facebook by Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn. Photo: Facebook
Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn's proposed design for a building to house a gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria has been met with mixed reactions from the public. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn's proposed design for a building to house a gymnasium, auditorium and cafeteria has been met with mixed reactions from the public. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL) engaged residents near and far via his Facebook page when he revealed the proposed drawing for a new building at the Elmore Stoutt High School and, judging from the majority comments, a fancy building is not priority for many.

Posted yesterday April 19, 2017 Hon Walwyn wrote, “I am determined to improve our school campuses on all our islands in the territory. This is a proposed drawing for the auditorium/cafeteria/gymnasium at the Elmore Stoutt High School which I intend to have built very soon. Tell me what you think!”

Persons held back no words in saying exactly what they think, be it good, bad or indifferent. There were many complimentary gestures with some persons saying things like, “Nice I love the glass by stairs would be great if school mascot and colours are embedded in the glass…Yeah man, this is what the country needs, architecture, too many squares with rooms inside, but, lord make sure it is properly maintained.”

Klára Jansová said its really nice but, “feel like we're trying to modernise the islands too much... I would go with a more Islandy Caribbean (still clean) look.”

Some popular names also popped up with comments, including Kareem Nelson Hull, who wrote, “…It's so funny that you posted this today, I'm watching 13 Reasons Why which is set at an American High School. A scene with a winter dance just happened and I thought to myself why can't our students have Multipurpose facilities like these on our campuses to enhance the livability and functionality of our schools. I want our students to grow up knowing the best and modern campuses with buildings that are eco-friendly and with facilities that can be rented with ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO THE SCHOOLS would be great!”

Priority

However, there were persons who said priority needs to be set in a different order. It is Thecla Hopkins who said the design is a very good idea. “I love it but before that is built I would love to see the classrooms where the children spend most of their time learning refurbished or rebuilt. A comfortable learning environment promotes better learning.”

Similar sentiments were shared by Niqua Vee and Trevor Barzey, who said “Spend more $ on the inside than on the outside.”

One person also asked about classrooms for the students that have to go to the college campus for classes and updated classrooms.

Sean Henry said, “If you are seriously considering you then need to halt all new development and ensure that they complement this flash of utopia.”

Smyrna Brewley noted, “The auditorium, cafeteria and gymnasium take preference over proper classrooms and adequately trained teachers?”

32 new classrooms for September- Hon Walwyn

At this juncture the Minister responded, “This is just part of the overall development plan for the ESHS. Thirty-two classrooms are currently being built to be ready in time for September. The overall separation of the school into junior and senior high will call for improved classrooms, improved labs, new furnishing and general improvement to the physical plan….Students have been having assembly and eating lunch under tents for about a decade. We have to fix this as well.”

The building will also house the teachers' staff room on the top floor. “We intend to place this building where the current staff room is, that way both the senior students and junior students would have access to it without the co-mingling,” Hon Walwyn added.

But Deanie Caddle said, “Bro you have to go in there around lunch time and see how them children have trash all over the ground and tables. Young ladies sat at a table and when the bell ring all of them get up and leave their garbage on the table or throw it on the ground. I was in shock I don't want to see where they live, what you practice at home you take everywhere with you.”

Sophia E-Bain wrote, “It looks pretty, but it would be useful to take a more passive design approach to reduce electricity costs which would presumably be very costly in this current design since it appears to be very closed in. For example, why not have open windows in certain places to allow for airflow and have the building face in a direction that does not allow the hot afternoon sun to hit the front etc...”

63 Responses to “Hon Walwyn reveals proposed design for ESHS building on FB”

  • dog (20/04/2017, 08:16) Like (46) Dislike (11) Reply
    Trying to fool us from answering fahie question but we not buying it
    • dog (20/04/2017, 11:35) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
      When looking at a design one has to take into consideration context, appropriateness, materials, utilities, function.
      I see this as a trophy for the minister, not an overall solution. Sophia E-Bain's comments are practical.
      And WHY do you want to look like Dubai, Miami, NY, Cal.? there is rich architectural vocabulary that can contribute to a better building. How tall is it? Are you looking at the Cinema as a precedent? That continues to be an eye-sore in town.
      There is a better design than this out there. This is an ego trip. Oh... and by the way... the above is NOT THE REAL DOG! Please get your own handle!!
      • Gecko (20/04/2017, 22:37) Like (8) Dislike (6) Reply
        agreed. this looks like an office building in Miami, not user-friendly human scale, not comfortable but cold, uninviting and expensive.
        • shaw (22/04/2017, 22:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          can you imagine climbing those stairs every day? They should be half landings making it easier for kids unless it is an escalator. So what happens when there is a power outage? the function is not well thought out. As pointed out, there are people who specialize in designing schools. There is training for it. Not this sleek wanna-be un-relatable architecture.
      • NezRez (21/04/2017, 02:38) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
        This picture depicts too much glass. Did the person who drew this picture take into consideration the sun will reflect off this glass causing blinding light within and outside the building? Sun glare can prevent people from seeing correctly and the glare off the glass can affect surrounding buildings as well. I really hope they think this one through and not try to look fancy showing off. Also, what about hurricane season when high winds can break some of the glass, endangering the students?
        • @NezRez (21/04/2017, 09:22) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
          Not to mention some of the students are quite destructive. Can you imagine the cost per semester to replace broken glasses by students?
      • So tell me this (23/04/2017, 06:10) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
        Well, what You want us to look like??? A modernized school or continue to look like a bunch of bungalows down in Africa?
        • pat (24/04/2017, 10:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          a modernized bunch of bungalows keeping some semblance of character instead of out of context eye sore.
      • Roger Burnett (23/04/2017, 07:11) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
        I totally agree with your comment. As you say, there is a rich architectural vocabulary and it could contribute to better building, not just in the Virgin Islands but throughout the Caribbean. In the past good design originated at the workbench of the master mason and the master carpenter. Sadly, we have lost the plot!
    • Ajic (21/04/2017, 23:55) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Elmore Stoutt School IS A HEALTH HAZZARD! THERE IS A SERIOUS MOULD PROBLEM THAT IS AFFECTING BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. FIX THAT FIRST!! Don't put another building up until that problem is rectified. Government aught to be ashame of themselves over the current condition of that school. But you want to put up new building. Improve the present building and air quality.
  • cat (20/04/2017, 08:23) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
    If you are a fool you are damn fool just saying
  • wize up (20/04/2017, 08:24) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    say what you want however he is now getting free publicly on this platform !!!!
  • school children (20/04/2017, 08:25) Like (41) Dislike (6) Reply
    The wasted $1.2million wall could have paid for this
  • Law Abiding citizen (20/04/2017, 08:28) Like (34) Dislike (4) Reply
    More money to go missing.
    • wize up (20/04/2017, 12:27) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ law abiding citizen: I respectfully must disagree with you !!!! The money not missing !!! The money goes right into the pockets of political friends: the friend keeps some of that money from the project then set aside the balance of those funds for the member of parliament: the memeber of the house will now use his kickback to buy cars; build houses; other business ventures and pay for political campaigns( check it out good; when VIP in power certain persons gets works and when NDP in power certain people get work...con plan?)
      • @ wize up (20/04/2017, 15:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        I am totally sorry. You are right, it does. I was just sugar coating it.
  • student (20/04/2017, 08:38) Like (23) Dislike (6) Reply
    The building is quite nice. However, please ensure that this building can stand against hurricane winds with all that glass! Maybe it would be fiber?
  • Really? (20/04/2017, 08:41) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Cost? Paid for how?
  • rewrsdffds (20/04/2017, 08:48) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well then forget about the airport project and concentrate on our children (...and watch the mold in that building too.)
    • Sue (20/04/2017, 10:57) Like (12) Dislike (5) Reply
      Why build a closed up building especially with glass surrounding when there is so much fights going in the ESHS that make sense. What are we promoting are we really think safety in the school. The High School building that I attended had blocks or brick wall where the air flowed through the build and never had a problem with mold what teachers and students are now suffering from now presently in the school The build has now change to a closed up building and creating mold to grow everywhere due to lack of air flow and proper ventilation. Education minister need to look into that urgently Ok so now there is going to be a nice big close up building which is all good. Are measures going to be put in place to prevent mold from getting into the building. Is the building going to be properly maintained and cleaned? There are a lot of things needs to put in place for maintenance of the building. Let put procedures and policy in place first because having a nice building will soon become and vanished old building
  • kick backs (20/04/2017, 09:18) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    How much was paid to steve?
    • --- (20/04/2017, 22:43) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      steve is a frustrated architect (I use that term loosely) looking for an opportunity to be grand. Isolated buildings usually look good if you don't put them into surroundings so you know how they will LOOK! No one around here considers that.
  • Problem #2 (20/04/2017, 09:20) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply

    Biggest problem this ndp gang has its they don't listen to nobody mehson. Second they love fool people with big wacky flashy ideas. Thirdly everybody gullible want want then go vote them in. All you continue acting like zombie de man. Let this little boy get from here. So sick and tired of them polluted @$$.

  • vgboy (20/04/2017, 09:25) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply

    more money to t****

  • 101 (20/04/2017, 09:25) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Street Psychology 101
  • wow (20/04/2017, 10:11) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    i hope he using some of that wall money because we are broke
  • WARNING! WARNING! (20/04/2017, 11:02) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    No matter what they say the cost will be, make sure you double it!
  • vi (20/04/2017, 11:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happen to the classrooms for the 6th Form
  • HAHA (20/04/2017, 11:34) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    he needs to use his own money to build that
  • Yes! And...no. (20/04/2017, 11:48) Like (27) Dislike (0) Reply

    I'm all for building a new high school and remodeling the campus. It's way pass overdue and it is holding back the progress of the student. The campus has a lot of potential and it's time we get rid of those temporary classrooms that have been there for over 20 years. Plus, all this walking back and forth to classes take up a lot of time and cut into teaching time. I'm most excited for the gymnasium. Obesity is an epidemic in the BVI and on top of that most islanders don't know how to swim. I hope the gym comes with a swimming pool which can help encourage children to exercise without putting too much stress on the heavier kids' joints and help more kids learn to swim.

    On the other hand, I don't think ....... is trustworthy at all. He's an egomaniac who doesn't think things through and bullies people into accepting his ideas. He rushes everything to give the illusion of progress and have people praise him. He is brash and his decisions often causes more harm than good; not because he has bad ideas but because he can't see anyone else's opinion as right or helpful and must do things his own way. Then, even when things are failing, he pushes still because he hasn't learnt that failure isn't the worst thing that could happen as long as you learn from it and try again with something new. He isn't a leader, he's a dictator. I have a feeling that if he leads this project things would go to $#!+.

    Also, I want to note that from the pictures the building seems to be airconditioned which is a bad idea. From the history of other public buildings (primarily the Administration Complex), the government seems to have difficulty maintaining airconditioned buildings. Public offices are always closed or their employees are always complaining about mould. The high school have over 1500 kids and we can't afford for schools to be randomly and indeterminately shut down in the middle of the school year for mould. Nor can we afford for all those kids to get sick. Perhaps building an Eco-safe building that maximizes natural light and the breezes is better with artificial lighting and airconditioned ping being secondary and only used when necessary.

  • Well Sah (20/04/2017, 12:38) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    too much glass.......think about safety
  • Music (20/04/2017, 12:45) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    First, to correct some misconceptions. There no classrooms in this proposed building..
    How much was paid to the designer? Was it budgeted for? Glass, airconditioning, huge electricity bills.
    I still cant figure out why 32 classrooms are needed for one school year? Can anyone tell me?
  • gene (20/04/2017, 13:00) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    this is going to cost what they say is not there in the treasury .its too flashy for a school I think
  • spine (20/04/2017, 13:31) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Another spin from this attention looking guru.
  • Guest (20/04/2017, 14:08) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    If a wall alledgely cost $1 million I guess this will be like the Pier park and we must multiply by 100..so my guess $140 Million when the final brick is placed.
  • Tee (20/04/2017, 14:09) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Regardless to how we free about a persons it is important to give jack their jacket. That is a good design for a modern day school/education. That design reflects ALL the things that are needed for the learning and teaching process to work.
  • good god (20/04/2017, 14:14) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    How does these guarantee quality education. This is enslavement. Its our children children gon pay 4 dis
  • Myo (20/04/2017, 14:21) Like (5) Dislike (17) Reply
    Just can't please some of you.. Some of you need go live in a cave . The new proposed building is awesome. Money on the wall was already spent and story done.. The wall is evidence to the money spent. Let's move on with the further improvements. Our children deserves the best.
  • seeing (20/04/2017, 14:48) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    very costly design . Reduce the number of corners and design for possible expansion
  • UHU (20/04/2017, 15:37) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    If the wall cost 1.2 million, this building will definitely get us under the ground!!!!!!!
  • Like it (20/04/2017, 16:01) Like (3) Dislike (10) Reply
    I like it, I also like the design.Dont worry about who don't agree Myron.
  • Not A SHit (20/04/2017, 17:31) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    NOT A F***!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Dawg I dying fr fr fr
  • All I have to say (20/04/2017, 18:29) Like (7) Dislike (18) Reply
    Why are you people so damn backwards and closed minded. The design is really nice. Stop complaining so much.
  • hah (20/04/2017, 18:39) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    Too much glass exterior for a school. The same place where the delinquent students cut holes in fence, deface walls, damage coolers, toilets and bathrooms consistently and often.
  • VG (20/04/2017, 19:12) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    And in the mean time VG high School children stand in the blazing sun for assembly. Suppose they going send the old tent to VG. Poor VG
  • Wick (20/04/2017, 19:44) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    What about Virgin Gorda Highschool? They always been left out on everything
  • Afu (20/04/2017, 19:50) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply

    This is supposed to be PARADISE, not Midtown Manhattan NYC. Cut the b*ll$h*t!!!

  • Hooray (20/04/2017, 20:31) Like (4) Dislike (17) Reply
    Oh yeah, sure!!! Build it so we can have modernised facilities to house hungry children, who have so many underlying social issues that need to be addressed. Sure, we would love driving up to such a building with potholes galore and smelly sewage running all over town! Of course, let's not forget that the toilet paper and other supplies will be rationed, if any will be available at all! Sure Myron, go go go...over $1million for a wall...well how much in the world is that monstrosity of a design. I wonder how much monies have been expended so far for the design. Was a consultancy firm hired on this one too??

    So hooray, because u think we are all dumb!
  • dog (20/04/2017, 23:04) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
    With all the comments and opinions on this board, can you imagine if the people had a change to speak at a public hearing with the minister and architect present? How else will they get meaningful feedback other than reading a handful of blog. These officials NEED TO KNOW what people think! Do they want to come around a corner and stare at this every morning? Where is the master planning for the whole campus, not one building at a time which will be too expensive and unsustainable.

    Glass is heat! Big staircases rising two and three stories are expensive to air-condition. This is not well-designed or thought out as to how students' travel. THERE IS A WHOLE SCIENCE TO DESIGNING A SCHOOL. Where they congregate, open space, sight lines, configuration of facade. this design is not conducive to a functional educational institution. There are people who SPECIALIZE in schools and hospitals. It is not an easy quick thing and worth nothing it if it doesn't WORK! I would think that with the expense, the minister would have public meetings all over the territory for ideas. This is ego building at the expense of the student and taxpayers.

    And YES! learn from our forefathers about catching cross breezes, open windows, light and heat... and make sure there are cisterns for emergencies.
    • lars (21/04/2017, 08:05) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      To much glass, needs a lot of air condition. Whats about stability in hurricane condition?
      They make the same mistakes in buildings like we do it in Germany.
      And it don't looks like a caribean building (main problem).
      Who will pay for it? You can by a lot of solarpanells for the money and build up a more cost and clima effective schoolbuilding.
  • You Don't Say! (21/04/2017, 15:43) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    Sad to say, but the design looks totally out of place and very un-native looking here in the BVI.
  • You Do Say! (21/04/2017, 21:47) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Baloney! Design depicts a pile of rubble.
  • Top Student (23/04/2017, 05:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I'm not even going to read the other comments on this article .... the teaching in the BVI is already great and has prepared me well for where I am now in America... I don't care how much money they would have to spend to build a school like this. I would come to this school any day!!!!! The teaching is already good and now the facilities going to be world class?!?!? Oh, Come on....Any top student would want to be in a place like this...
  • ausar (24/04/2017, 19:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Finally the designs of a modern learning institute!

    Let's go, Myron

    Long, long overdue!
  • wa ? (25/04/2017, 15:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    WITH WHAT MONEY?!?


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