Building the Future of Education: Burnaby North Secondary School

When Burnaby School District set out to create one of BC's largest secondary schools, they needed reliable mechanical and plumbing systems that could support both ambitious educational goals and complex community functions. Somatic was selected to deliver the $14 million mechanical and plumbing installation for this transformative $116 million project.

Project Scale and Scope

Burnaby North Secondary represents a new model for educational facilities in British Columbia. Built to accommodate 1,800 students, the school required sophisticated building systems to support its innovative design featuring nine classroom pods with shared breakout spaces that encourage collaborative learning.

Our team installed comprehensive mechanical and plumbing systems throughout the facility, ensuring optimal environmental conditions for diverse learning environments while maintaining the performance standards critical for a project of this magnitude.

Beyond Traditional Education

What makes this project particularly complex is its multi-use design. The facility serves not just as a secondary school, but as a true community hub. The building houses a Neighbourhood Learning Centre, full conference centre, and childcare facility with 123 spaces. Each of these functions required specialized mechanical and electrical systems tailored to their unique operational needs.

The childcare facility alone demanded careful attention to air quality, temperature control, and safety systems, while the conference centre required flexible mechanical solutions to accommodate varying occupancy levels and event types.

Skilled Installation for Community Impact

Somatic's role focused on the precise installation of mechanical and plumbing systems designed to serve the facility's diverse functions while meeting strict performance requirements. The result is a forward-thinking space that supports not just traditional classroom learning, but community connection and lifelong education initiatives.

Completion and Impact

Construction wrapped up in fall 2022, delivering a facility that sets new standards for educational infrastructure in BC. The successful completion of Burnaby North Secondary demonstrates Somatic's capability to handle large-scale institutional projects where reliability and long-term performance are non-negotiable.

This project reinforces our commitment to creating building systems that support communities for generations to come.