[Surrey] GEC Education Centre | 165m | 49 fl | Proposed

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Wow I was way off.

Still don't really understand the economics behind this one but would love to see it go forward.

I don't see how this makes sense without the top 40 floors being condos.

[Shift]

Some further details of the proposal from the ADP minutes:

• 1 floor ground-level commercial
• 5 floors for a college and associated offices
• 33 floors student residence
• 12 floors hotel
• 4 floors amenity space
• 7 levels of underground parking

Requesting 12.23 FAR on gross site area.

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by Shift

Some further details of the proposal from the ADP minutes:

• 1 floor ground-level commercial
• 5 floors for a college and associated offices
• 33 floors student residence
• 12 floors hotel
• 4 floors amenity space
• 7 levels of underground parking

Requesting 12.23 FAR on gross site area.

Do they really need seven levels of underground parking???

[Shift]

^I believe it's due to the constrained size of the site. They also are required to give up road dedication for the construction of 102 Avenue through the site.


Updated rendering of the project courtesy of WestStone Group of what was approved at ADP. Massing and exterior has changed slightly.

[retro_orange]

I would hope there is some hourly/daily parking as part of it; being skytrain station adjacent.

[vanman]

Thanks for the new render Shift. The original proposal was getting mixed reviews in the Canada's 50 Tallest Proposals thread.

[SurreyonTheMap]

I'm really excited for this tower, as the height we initially thought was around ranging from 168 to 180 but now since it will be 190.5m, I think thats impressive. Surrey is really trying to compete with the rest of Metro Vancouver witch will just bring the best out of every city in competition. Also it works with the demographic of surrey with the city having around 33% of people below the age of 25 plus Metro Vancouver is a gateway area to many asian countries such as China, India, and South Korea so seeing an international education mega centre is something that is plausible

[EhJay]

I like the fact that it'll have 15-20 educational institutions is pretty unique. Having a lot more students with the expanded SFU and KPU in the neighbourhood should also encourage some other bars / pubs and cafe's to open up in the area. Also, with them having residences for students and another hotel should help KEEP students here instead of watching them leave right after class.

[officedweller]

Thanks.
That's a cleaner looking design.

I think it's cool that the 2 tallest building in Surry will both be fairly narrow slabs, as opposed to point towers or square floorplate office buildings.

[Shift]

Originally Posted by SurreyonTheMap

I'm really excited for this tower, as the height we initially thought was around ranging from 168 to 180 but now since it will be 190.5m, I think thats impressive. Surrey is really trying to compete with the rest of Metro Vancouver witch will just bring the best out of every city in competition. Also it works with the demographic of surrey with the city having around 33% of people below the age of 25 plus Metro Vancouver is a gateway area to many asian countries such as China, India, and South Korea so seeing an international education mega centre is something that is plausible

Surrey isn't competing with anybody. A private developer is proposing the height, not Surrey. Not sure if developers compete over height between cities in Metro Van. Regardless, taller towers like this are becoming more common proposals across the region. Wouldn't expect this to remain 2nd tallest for long.

Still not really a fan of the design. The relationship between the podium and tower seems kind of akward and the design isn't iconic enough for a new 'tallest' in Surrey. Would rather see a design like the Hampton Hotel proposal at this height. Will have to see the other sides of the building.. It should be fairly narrow given the site which may help it look better.

[Shift]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks.
That's a cleaner looking design.

I think it's cool that the 2 tallest building in Surry will both be fairly narrow slabs, as opposed to point towers or square floorplate office buildings.

Agreed. Also the next phase of King George Hub towers are rectangular slabs too.

[Nites]

Jeez 191m

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Shift

Agreed. Also the next phase of King George Hub towers are rectangular slabs too.

I've never seen that before. Is that the most recent render? Those look great

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks.
That's a cleaner looking design.

I think it's cool that the 2 tallest building in Surry will both be fairly narrow slabs, as opposed to point towers or square floorplate office buildings.

Agreed, and I find them far more interesting than what is going up in Burnaby. I hope that Surrey continues this trend.

[Shift]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I've never seen that before. Is that the most recent render? Those look great

Yes that's the new design shown in the Planning Report to council from June:

https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7917-0162-00.pdf

[LeftCoaster]

I guess I'll go against the crowd and say I liked the old design better. More texture and visual appeal IMO. The new one just looks to be setting the stage to pump it full of spandrel.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I guess I'll go against the crowd and say I liked the old design better. More texture and visual appeal IMO. The new one just looks to be setting the stage to pump it full of spandrel.

It reminds me of the podium of modello. If they can do it like that it'll look really good

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Shift

Yes that's the new design shown in the Planning Report to council from June:

https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7917-0162-00.pdf

Off-topic wrt King George Station -

Cool, thanks!

I like the common design feature (with 3 Civic) of the wrap-around wall-roof-wall element.
It gives a nice clean look to the tower.

[clee7903]

At 625 feet tall, if this is accurate it will dwarf even the very tall 3 Civic by almost 100 feet?

[Shift]

Yeah 100 feet taller than Civic Plaza. Feel like Civic Plaza's design is more fitting for the taller tower of the 2.

Thread title also still says 50 fl for this. Needs to be updated to 55