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

[Shift]

Hard to say, but this seems like a project that will move along relatively quickly now that it's under application, given the developer and investor group behind it, and the type of use.

I would guess approvals by the end of the year or early next. Construction could start 2018 or 2019 at latest. Then 3 years to excavate/build so 2021-2022 completion.

[osirisboy]

Have these people (CIBT) ever built anything before?

They say Levels 3-6 will be leased to "20 educational institutions from around the world". Seems specific. And why would educational institutions from outside of Canada want to congregate in Surrey?

Hope this all comes together but it's seems like an odd project

[Shift]

^They aren't the developer, WestStone Group is, but from their website:

CIBT Education Group Inc. is an education and student-housing investment company focused on the global education market since 1994. Listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and OTCQX International, CIBT owns and operates a network of business, technical and language colleges in North America and Asia.

http://www.cibt.net/about/


The sub-group of CIBT partnering with WestGroup on this tower is:

Global Education City (GEC) Holdings Inc., Vancouver, Canada

Global Education City Holdings Inc. (“GEC”) is an investment holding and management company with a special focus on education related real estate projects in Canada.

Starting in 2013, CIBT initiated plans to diversify its core business of education to include student residences through GEC.

Since then, GEC has developed a network of serviced apartments and hotels throughout the Metro Vancouver area, each at a centralized location and within approximately five minutes walking distance from a Skytrain station.

Since 2014, the company commenced has more than $100 mm worth of real estate projects. Out of all the projects in the pipeline, the most anticipated project is the Education Super Center, which will be first of its kind in North America, aggregating a number of multidisciplinary public and private schools at one location, including language schools, colleges, and universities, supported by long and short-term stay hotels connected to the Education Super Center.

http://www.cibt.net/about/business_model.php

I can't tell if the 'Education Super Center' and 'Education Mega Centre' are the same thing or 2 different projects. Can't find a location for the Super Centre other than "Vancouver, BC". They are spoken of as separate projects in a press release, and there's a separate rendering for the Super Centre on their website.


http://www.cibt.net/news/20170110.php

[officedweller]

Here is their photo page:

http://cibt.net/news/gec-photos.php

They operate several existing student facilities in Vancouver
- including the VIVA Tower and the former Best Western on Granville @ Drake.

This rendering shows the "Super Centre" being in Richmond with Canada Line, Aberdeen Expansion and President's Plaza in the background:


http://cibt.net/news/gec-photos.php

[CoryHolmes]

What's slated for the purple L-shaped plot to the lower right of this one? I've not heard of anything slated for there.

[Shift]

Ok I thought the 'Super Centre' might be in Richmond.

That's 2 very significant projects underway for them then.

Wonder what the timeline of the Richmond project is. Both seem to have been undertaken simultaneously.

[Metro-One]

So, does this project actually have a pulse now?

Just read this:

http://http://www.surreynowleader.com/entertainment/one-final-skate-at-surreys-old-stardust-site-this-summer-before-50-storey-tower-built-there/

[Nites]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

So, does this project actually have a pulse now?

Just read this:

http://http://www.surreynowleader.com/entertainment/one-final-skate-at-surreys-old-stardust-site-this-summer-before-50-storey-tower-built-there/

As far as I know it always had a pulse. We've known for quite some time that the roller rink was getting demolished.

[osirisboy]

It says the roller rink closed in 2005. So it's just been sitting empty this time, and they are just opening it up for this event?

[Shift]

They are referring to it's former name 'Stardust' Roller Rink. It has been the Central City Arena since 2005 - more focused on a venue for Roller Hockey.

Project has always had a pulse since announced - application was submitted back in April as posted on this thread.

If the last skate is in July then sounds like they could be looking to demo the building by the Fall maybe?

Project still needs to go to council though. Oddly this was not one of the 'transformative projects' announced for 'Fast-Tracking' by the Mayor at her State of the City Address yesterday.

https://urbansurrey.com/2017/05/18/i...-city-address/

[Shift]

The Roller Rink has been given a 6 month extension on their lease til January. Demolition / construction to begin early next year.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/437026223.html

[Shift]

Design for Education Mega Centre approved by Surrey Design Panel, although no new renderings yet.

Tower is set to become the 2nd tallest in Metro Vancouver at 625 Feet.

3 Civic Plaza by comparison is 538 Feet.

Shangri-La is 645 Feet
Trump Tower is 616 Feet

Will go to Council for 1st & 2nd on Sept 11

https://urbansurrey.com/2017/08/02/d...-design-panel/

[officedweller]

Nice!

[Shift]

Also according to the statement released by CIBT Group - it's now 55 Floors (but equivalent of 63 floors once double height floors are factored in).

[vanman]

I thought this would end up being in the 500ft range. Nice to see it surpass 600ft.

[Flynn86]

That's crazy a school will be the second tallest building in BC

[Blease]

I find the Trump Tower completely dreamy, it's insane to think a building in Surrey will out-do it in height.

[Shift]

Assuming the early renderings released are what was approved... the tower leaves a bit to be desired if it is to become the tallest in Surrey and 2nd tallest in Metro Vancouver.

3 Civic Plaza makes a much better tallest for Surrey in my opinion, not just in design, but also uses within the building, and context on the plaza at City Hall.

Here is a view of the Education Mega Centre site to help visualize how the tower will fit into the area:

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

if the podium is in fact education floors they will need to be 1.5 to 2.0x height so I'd assume: 6 floors at 5M then 44 floors at 3M and a mech floor at 6M for a total of 168M.

Just a wild ass guess of course.

Wow I was way off.

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

[Vin]

Good! Let's have more of these tall towers! At least we will be able to experience a way nicer Surrey in our lifetime.