Construction of a new downtown Vancouver elementary school is underway at the International Village site.

Set to open in 2017, the school will be called Crosstown Elementary.

Located at 55 Expo Boulevard beside Andy Livingstone Park, Crosstown Elementary is across Rogers Arena.

The school was named after the neighbourhood where it is located.

“Crosstown is a compact, high density neighbourhood,” states a Vancouver school district staff report. “There are significant upcoming developments for the Crosstown and surrounding areas with the proposed viaduct removal. The intention of the City is that the Crosstown neighbourhood is a connector to Yaletown, Downtown, Gastown and Chinatown.”

The name was approved by the school board at a meeting Wednesday (December 14).

Next year, input from the indigenous committee will be sought for an additional name for the elementary school.

According to a media release, other schools in the district have dual names, incorporating aboriginal names. Examples include Grandview Elementary/¿uuqinak’uuh, and Point Grey/stəywəte:n Secondary.