Construction begins on BCIT Burnaby's $220-million expansion of skilled trades buildings
Construction is now underway on a long-planned major expansion at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) aimed at increasing training capacity for skilled trades and technology programs, as the provincial government looks to address growing demand for workers in construction, manufacturing, and related sectors.
The project, known as the BCIT Trades and Technology Complex, will include four new buildings. Work has now started on the first three: the Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion, the Marine and Mass Timber Pavilion, and the Campus Services Centre. A fourth building, the Concert Properties Centre for Trades and Technology, is expected to begin construction in Summer 2026.
Provincial Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma said the expansion comes at a time when British Columbia is investing heavily in public infrastructure and needs more trained workers to deliver those projects.
“We can’t build construction projects without the expertise and work of people in skilled trades,” said Ma in a statement, adding that the new facilities are intended to help ensure a steady pipeline of skilled workers for the future.
“At a time of historic capital investment, this new complex will ensure we have people trained and prepared to deliver the infrastructure our communities need no matter what the challenges of tomorrow may bring.”
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The Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion is being built as a net-zero-ready, mass-timber structure and will serve as a new hub for carpentry training, including a new mass-timber construction program. The Marine and Mass Timber Pavilion will provide large, open project space for hands-on instruction in mass timber, marine fitting trades and steel construction. The Campus Services Centre, a two-storey mass-timber building, will consolidate administrative services in one location on campus.
The final phase of the project, the Concert Properties Centre for Trades and Technology, will bring several trades programs together under one roof and is designed to encourage collaboration between skilled trades and engineering students. This three-storey building with 80,000 sq. ft. of space is the largest of the new structures, and involves the demolition of the existing NE07 and NE09 buildings.
Revised concept of the Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion at BCIT Burnaby. (Urban Arts Architecture/BCIT)
Revised concept of the Marine and Mass Timber Workshop at BCIT Burnaby. (Urban Arts Architecture/BCIT)
Revised concept of Campus Services Centre at BCIT Burnaby. (Carscadden and Moriyama and Teshima Architects/BCIT)
Revised concept of the Concert Properties Centre for Trades and Technology at BCIT Burnaby. ( Patkau Architects/BCIT)
In addition to new buildings, the project includes an environmental restoration component. Guichon Creek, which currently runs underground through part of the campus, will be brought back to the surface. The restored creek is planned to become a pedestrian-oriented green space and a living laboratory for students studying ecological restoration. That work is scheduled to be completed alongside the final building phase.
B.C. Post-secondary Education and Future Skills Minister Jessie Sunner said the complex is intended to support training in key sectors such as construction innovation and maritime trades, helping students access stable, well-paying jobs while strengthening the province’s workforce.
The nearly $220-million project is being funded through a combination of contributions from the provincial and federal governments, BCIT administration, and fundraising by the BCIT Foundation, David Podmore, Concert Properties, and Bosa Construction. The first three buildings are expected to be completed in 2027.
BCIT president Jeff Zabudsky said the expansion reflects the institute’s long-standing focus on hands-on, industry-connected training. He said the new complex will help prepare students with the skills needed to build housing and infrastructure across the province as demand for skilled labour continues to grow.
Concept of the daylighted Guichon Creek at BCIT Burnaby. (BCIT)
Locations of the four new buildings at BCIT Burnaby. (BCIT)
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