Metro Vancouver's second tallest building will be this 626-ft tower in Surrey

Jun 21 2018, 1:51 am

There will be one last skate this weekend at a popular roller skate arena in Surrey’s Whalley district.

Operators of the 1971-built Central City Arena, formerly known as Stardust Roller Rink, say they will be closing their business at the building on Monday, June 25, but before that happens they will be hosting a final public skate event on Saturday, June 23 between 8 am and 11 pm.

They are aiming to secure a new location within the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, and hope to reopen in November.

Current condition

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Site of GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Central City Arena (Stardust Roller Rink) will be replaced with GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

Future condition

Artistic rendering of GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey and future surrounding redevelopments. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

The closure is happening as the roller rink, located at 10240 City Parkway, is set to be demolished for the construction of Global Education City Education Mega Centre – a 626-ft-tall, 55-storey education campus dedicated to international students by CIBT Education Group and local real estate developer WestStone Group.

With this height, it will topple Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver (616 ft) to earn the title of being the second tallest tower in Metro Vancouver, right behind Shangri-La Vancouver Hotel (659 ft).

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Artistic rendering of GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

The project, designed by Chris Dikeakos Architects, was first proposed in 2016 and has gone through some changes ever since.

There will be a podium with ground-level retail space and five floors of academic space, such as classrooms, commons areas, study areas, and an eating area and lounge. A large podium roof terrace connected to the academic amenity spaces provides opportunities for an outdoor classroom. Educational institutions will lease space in this area to deliver academic programs.

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Artistic rendering of GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

Further up, floors eight to 20 are envisioned as a short-stay student hotel with 192 units for stays of no longer than 20 weeks.

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Typical floor plan for the short-term student hotel at GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

And floors 21 to 41 and 43 to 54 will be 264 units of fully-furnished “serviced apartments” for students, with each apartment containing four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a common kitchen, dining area, and living room.

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Typical floor plan for the student apartment at GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

The concierge desk for both the hotel and apartments is located on the 20th floor, where some of the resident amenities such as a fitness room, meeting rooms, quiet lounge, and roof terrace with outdoor fireplace are located.

Floors 42 and 55 will contain amenity areas only for the residents of the apartments, including another fitness room, yoga room, large lounge, small quiet lounge, computer room, amenity lounge, library, and roof terraces with lounge furniture and a fire table.

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Floor plan of the indoor and outdoor spaces on the top 55th floor of the short-term student hotel at GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

A total of 386 underground parking stalls are planned, with more than half dedicated for the residents of the student apartments.

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Floor usage for GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

The $230-million building will have a total floor area of 550,000 sq. ft. on its 45,000 sq. ft. property, giving it a floor area ratio density of 12.25 times the size of its lot.

The proposal has already gone through multiple readings in Surrey City Council and is expected to receive final approval.

GEC Education Mega Centre Surrey

Artistic rendering of GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. (Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / Weststone Group)

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