[Surrey] SFU Surrey Expansion

[Shift]

Creating a new thread for all SFU Surrey expansion posts and discussion as the university's expansion will be on-going in Surrey City Centre through multiple phases.

SFU Surrey has occupied space in Central City for over a decade but is soon set to embark on its first phase of expansion which will be a new 5-storey Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering Building at 102 Ave and University Drive.

The Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering Building is being designed by Bing Thom Architects, the same architect as Central City and the Surrey City Centre Library.

The project is set to go to Council for Rezoning and General Development Permit tonight (July 11, 2016). The parking lots that the building will replace will be closing on July 31, 2016 to allow for the start of site preparation and excavation by later this summer.

Planning report with info and images:

http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcounci...16-0240-00.pdf


Subject site 2 parking lots seen below:



Project renderings:

[Blease]

If its being designed by Bing Thom than chances are good that the end result will be aesthetically stylish and pleasing to look at. BT's two other works in the area (Surrey Central tower and the Library building) both won international accolades.

[Shift]

Yeah great news that Bing Thom is the architect on this one. Already i'm quite pleased with the preliminary design. As stated in the Planning report:

The detailed design of the building will be submitted as part of a detailed Development Permit application after the Rezoning By-law has received Third Reading. The design of the building will then be subject to review by the Advisory Design Panel (ADP).

So the design presented so far could still change a bit, but probably safe to say this one will turn out very nice.

[CoryHolmes]

Will this butt right up against the Prime building? Or is the tall tower in the rendering a further expansion of SFU?

[Shift]

The tall tower in the elevation drawing is Prime. The outlined building behind labeled Future Development is the future SFU residence tower to be built where the house currently exists next to the site.

[clee7903]

Yet another exciting project!! This whole area will look so nice.

[Whalleyboy]

I think one change that may happen would be more retail frontage along university drive

[Shift]

There will be no retail in this building. Only small food services. I would expect there to be maybe one cafe with street frontage and a sidewalk patio.

Uses under the proposed CD by-law:

• Universities; Colleges and Institutes;
• Eating establishments, excluding drive-throughs and limited to a maximum size of 150 square metres;
• Office uses

Further:

• Larger and more intensive commercial activities such as child care centres, neighbourhood pubs, assembly halls, indoor recreation facilities and large scale restaurants are not permitted in the proposed development, given the parking reduction requested by the applicant.
  
• Eating establishments will be restricted in size, up to a maximum of 150 square metres (1,615 sq.ft.) to minimize peak time parking demands and in keeping with the intent to cater primarily to students and local residents and businesses.

[w34lth]

Originally Posted by Shift

There will be no retail in this building. Only small food services. I would expect there to be maybe one cafe with street frontage and a sidewalk patio.

Retail locations at prime should benefit from this.

[GMasterAres]

There's a mall across the street and retail space will be in the base of Prime, 3 Civic, and the new University building across from City Hall. It isn't a big deal that this will be entirely dedicated to SFU because I think that's important for increasing the attractiveness of Surrey Central further. It is also another step toward SFU Surrey being as large as SFU Burnaby student and program wise.

Build this = more students, more demand, more buildings to house people, more retail and commercial, more business, more amenities. Also means basically anyone buying a condo in Prime to rent out will likely have 0 problem renting it out...

[scryer]

Originally Posted by jhausner

Build this = more students, more demand, more buildings to house people, more retail and commercial, more business, more amenities. Also means basically anyone buying a condo in Prime to rent out will likely have 0 problem renting it out...

And add onto the fact that the redevelopments will help gentrify the area a little more. I'm not saying that I am looking for complete gentrification but a little more push in that area couldn't hurt. Then all Surrey central needs is stronger office proposals to attract more jobs and really become the downtown of South Fraser.

[w34lth]

SFU Construction? - Taken today.

[christmas]

Sure looks like it.
Please, please don't kill the trees. forest them somewhere else.

[w34lth]

Originally Posted by christmas

Sure looks like it.
Please, please don't kill the trees. forest them somewhere else.

I can hear them doing construction with the windows closed. Sorry about your beloved trees lol

[christmas]

Originally Posted by w34lth

I can hear them doing construction with the windows closed. Sorry about your beloved trees lol

Are you sure they cut them down? Please check again.

[Whalleyboy]

Originally Posted by christmas

Sure looks like it.
Please, please don't kill the trees. forest them somewhere else.

They will transplanet what can be saved. Dead trees will be taken out. for each tree taken out Surrey usually has a 2 need to be planet rule.

In Surrey just cause you own property does not give you the rights to knock down trees here you have to get the city to let you. People who do it with out getting the cities okay are heavily fined

[osirisboy]

You want them to transplant those trees? Lol

[Cypherus]

Traffic control on 102A street this week to facilitate movement of construction equipment for lot preparation. Looks like they are not wasting time.

[GMasterAres]

Plan shows the trees are to be removed. Not sure if any will be transplanted but I've honestly yet to see trees that size not just get cut down and lumbered. They will plant more in their place and Surrey has lots of trees.

[Shift]

That construction happening is the City of Surrey constructing the new north/south 'urban green lane' that will run behind the SFU building. Looks like it's being constructed first in advance of the SFU construction as an exit for the lane that is currently there but will be partially closed once excavation for SFU starts.