Structural assessment report released on Elizabeth Ziegler Public School

A structural assessment report has been released on an aging Waterloo school that has been closed since March. CTV’s Heather Senoran takes a look.

The Waterloo Region District School Board released the results of its structural engineering assessment of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School on Wednesday.

The report detailed the extensive repairs needed to the Moore Avenue building, which was built in 1931, after months of testing and consultation.

The board said the report confirmed staff’s suspicions about the school.

“The structural challenges we suspected and detected needed to be addressed if students and staff were ever to occupy the school,” Bill Lemon, WRDSB’s associate director, told CTV News.

The board closed Elizabeth Ziegler Public School on March 3, citing concerns about its façade. Many of the students were transferred to Sandowne Public School to resume in-person lessons, while others attended classes in portables installed at Elizabeth Ziegler.

• TIMELINE: Closure of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School

On April 1, it was announced the school would remain closed for the 2025-2026 school year.

Structural assessment

The report from Witzel Dyce Engineering listed several concerns.

“Bricks that were failing, mortar that was failing, some corrosion on some of the steel beams,” Lemon summarized.

In particular, the school needed a new interior steel frame to support the structure.

“The deterioration of the existing headers, roof joists and floor joists poses safety concerns to any occupants inside or around the building,” the report read. “Repairing the deteriorated structural members is a critical step to reinstating occupancy for the school.”

Structural engineers also identified other issues, including cracks, corrosion and deterioration of building materials.

It recommended the installation of additional foundations, removal of the roof to create proper drainage and replacement of window supports.

“After the steel frame is installed, the exterior masonry walls can be repaired, reinforced and restored,” the school board said.

They noted the work would not include a full teardown of the building.

“This this is definitely a solution that would see the building remaining intact,” said Lemon.

The report also included recommendations to bring to the building up to current code standards, including resistances to seismic activity and an elevator.

The school board said the proposed repairs would extend the life of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School, improve future maintenance and ensure the safety of students, staff and visitors.

School board’s decision

The Waterloo Region District School Board said it will be moving forward with repairs to Elizabeth Ziegler Public School.

“We are working with the Ministry of Education to finalize the funding source and seeking approval for the restoration from the City of Waterloo, Municipal Heritage Committee and Building Services,” they said in Wednesday’s release.

The school board did not share the projected cost of the project.

“I recognize that this is a massive undertaking and a tough experience,” Lemon said. “But I am I’m grateful that this organization is taking this seriously and we’re keeping the needs of students and families centered throughout this.”

What’s next

Several steps must be taken before construction can begin.

The school board said a design report for the restoration and repair of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School will have to be presented and approved by the City of Waterloo Heritage Committee and Building Services.

They also need to secure a funding source with the Ministry of Education.

These two tasks must be addressed before the school board said it can provide a timeline for the project.

Also, based on the amount of work needed, they reiterated that Elizabeth Ziegler Public School will not reopen in September.

2025-2026 school year

The board said the portables currently at Elizabeth Ziegler will be removed before the start of the new school year.

Instead, students will go to either Sandowne Public School or JW Gerth Public School, if they’re in the Congregated Alternative Continuum of Education (ACE) program. Students in the enrichment program, meanwhile, will go to Brigadoon Public School.

The Waterloo Region District School Board said they will provide families with an update on June 25.

- With reporting by Heather Senoran