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

[Canucks223]

These photos were also included in the article. Not sure if they have been posted yet, I think these are new??

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Canucks223

An article from today on the Peace Arch News website. They say the existing roller rink will soon be demolished for a 49 story building. The thread title says its 39 floors, is there a confirmed number of floors for this?

"SURREY NOW & THEN: Old Stardust building will soon bite the dust to make way for tall tower"

https://www.peacearchnews.com/news/surre...ite-the-dust-to-make-way-for-tall-tower/

It's 49 stories it seems.

CIBT’S EDUCATION MEGA CENTER RECEIVES ADP APPROVAL
December 2, 2020
Vancouver, B.C., December 2nd 2020 – CIBT Education Group Inc. (TSX: MBA, OTCQX International: MBAIF) (“CIBT” or the “Company”) is pleased to report that one of its flagship projects, GEC® Education Mega Center (“EMC”) in Surrey, British Columbia has received conditional approval at the Advisory Design Panel public hearing on November 19th, 2020. Such approval is subject to the satisfaction of specific recommendations to enhance the design of EMC and complete other minor adjustments. None of the conditions are material. The planning department will schedule the first, second, and third council hearings following the ordinary course of the rezoning process. These hearings are expected to take place in early 2021.

The Company is also pleased to learn of Surrey City Development Corp.’s urban redevelopment and expansion plan with Simon Fraser University announced on November 19th, 2020. Under the development plan, 1.5 million square feet of office, commercial and retail space will be built across the street from EMC, less than 30 metres away. As a result, a new centralized office hub will be established at the Surrey Central Station, which will employ roughly 10,000 people. The news is available at https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/surrey-central-station-centre-block-redevelopment.

“The approval from the Advisory Design Panel at the public hearing represents a major milestone to our plan to build the first education super centre in North America,” commented Toby Chu, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CIBT Education Group. “We will now move expeditiously to finalize the remaining approval process so that we can commence construction of our flagship project as soon as feasible. Moreover, we anticipate Simon Fraser University’s expansion plan, once completed, will increase the number of working professionals and students in the area surrounding the GEC® Education Mega Center. Assuming the SFU expansion moves forward, such development will create a new bustling hub for businesses and schools near the EMC, and therefore add tremendous value to the EMC project.”

https://cibt.net/blog/2020/12/02/cibts-education-mega-center-receives-adp-approval/

[Canucks223]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It's 49 stories it seems.



https://cibt.net/blog/2020/12/02/cibts-education-mega-center-receives-adp-approval/

Thanks, yeah there has been a lot of mystery with this project. The floor count and design seems to be going back and forth with different information, its hard to trust anything I read and see about it.

[Klazu]

Looks very generic but tall in those pictures. Great if this is back to 49 floors!

[EhJay]

Good to see some office space being built into it. Be nice if they actually start demoing the old Stardust and this moves forward.

[Flynn86]

I'm guessing no more school

[Metro-One]

It’s clean and simple. Guessing between 170 and 180m?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Flynn86

I'm guessing no more school

What school?

[Flynn86]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

What school?

I thought there was talk about a international school going in on the lower floors with student housing in the tower.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Flynn86

I thought there was talk about a international school going in on the lower floors with student housing in the tower.

I think any of the commercial office space in the first 6 floors could still be used for the schools.

[officedweller]

Agreed, the school would be in the podium.
The simpler design would be a lot cheaper to build. I guess that's better than cutting off floors.

PS - that diagram also says Level 50 - "L-49/L-50 Amenity", although L-50 could just be a rooftop vestibule.

[Cypherus]

Looks to be 165m tall which is 1 meter taller than 3 Civic Plaza.

"The latest design is a 49 storey concrete structure, which stands 542 feet, making it one of the top ten tallest buildings in British Columbia when built. EMC will have six floors of mixed retail, commercial and offices for schools, technology companies and education-related services. Supported by two amenity floors, 27 floors of market rental apartments, and 14 floors of presale condos at the top section of the structure makes EMC a unique proposition for the urban population of young working professionals and students living at the city-centre of Surrey. Total gross buildable square footage is approximately 420,000 square feet with a construction budget of approximately $270 million." - December 2, 2020

https://cibt.net/blog/2020/12/02/cibts-education-mega-center-receives-adp-approval/

[montyhallgoat]

Originally Posted by Canucks223

An article from today on the Peace Arch News website. They say the existing roller rink will soon be demolished for a 49 story building. The thread title says its 39 floors, is there a confirmed number of floors for this?

Originally proposed as a 49-storey tower, but the developer pushed and got development permit for a 55-storey tower in 2017.

The project stalled for two years and the developer requested an extension of the development permit (DPs are valid only for two years) but also announced the building would be redesigned to 39-storey tower if the city approves.

[Nites]

Would like to see a 10 story podium for the area but I guess its a lot better then the 39 story proposal.

[Nites]

Finally seeing some movement on the application for this project.

[Shift]

Yes heading to Council on Monday for 1st & 2nd Readings. Notice the wide promenade along City Parkway.

https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/planning-reports/PLR_7920-0071-00.pdf

[Flynn86]

I cant see the city not approving this project. I hope the window color stays blue and does get changed to the same green that all towers in the lower mainland have.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Flynn86

I cant see the city not approving this project. I hope the window color stays blue and does get changed to the same green that all towers in the lower mainland have.

The brown is a no from me. But I'll keep an open mind.

Everything else is fine though.

[GMasterAres]

Yah I think a dark orange would have looked much better and stuck out.

[officedweller]

If the concrete is that khaki colour, the glass won't be blue - that would clash.
More likely greenish or gray.