Restoration of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School moving forward, but likely won’t be cheap

A fence blocked off access to Elizabeth Ziegler Public School in Waterloo, Ont. on March 4, 2025 due to structural testing. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News)

Elizabeth Ziegler Public School in Waterloo needs extensive repairs before students can return to their classrooms in September 2027, and that work could be pretty pricey.

While the cost of the project has never been shared publicly, a document distributed by the Waterloo Region District School Board this week put the estimate at $14.5 million.

The Major Capital Projects Quarterly Update Report also shared the projected budgets for three news schools: Breslau-Hopewell Crossing, Willow River and one in South East Cambridge. Those estimates ranged from $25 million to $32 million.

The cost to make repairs to Elizabeth Ziegler could end up being half the price of those new school builds.

The report was released Wednesday as part of an update on Elizabeth Ziegler’s restoration. In it, the school board said pre-construction steps and the prequalification process for general contractors had been completed.

CTV News reached out to the school board for confirmation of the projected $14.5 million cost. In response, they shared a statement from Scott Miller, the WRDSB’s director of education, which did not confirm or deny the estimated price tag.

“As a publicly funded organization, we must adhere to public sector procurement guidelines for projects of this size, and I am proud of the work that Facility Services staff have done to complete the prequalification process,” his statement said. “We anticipate that the project will be tendered in the coming weeks. Once this step is complete, WRDSB staff will work with the successful general contractor to begin work at the Elizabeth Ziegler Public School site as quickly as possible.”

Once the tendering process has been completed, the school board will likely have a better idea of the cost.

History of the school

Elizabeth Ziegler Public School was built in 1931 and was the third elementary school constructed in the City of Waterloo. In 1985, it was officially designated a heritage landmark.

The WRDSB shut the school down in March 2025 “in response to a recent concern discovered with the façade of the school.”

A few weeks later, the school board said Elizabeth Ziegler would stay closed for the rest of the 2024-2025 school year. That was followed, on April 1, by an announcement that the building would remain closed the following school year.

On June 11, a structural engineering assessment was released. It said Elizabeth Ziegler needed a new interior steel frame to support the structure, additional foundations, work on the roof to create proper drainage and the replacement of window supports. Once that was done, they could address the exterior masonry which needed to be reinforced, repaired and restored.

“We appreciate the school community’s patience and understanding as we move forward with this project,” Miller said in his statement to CTV News. “Together with students, staff, parents, families, caregivers and community members, we are eager to see the joy and excitement when Elizabeth Ziegler Public School opens its doors in September 2027.”