Metro Vancouver's second tallest building will be this 626-ft tower in Surrey
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
Future condition
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
A total of 386 underground parking stalls are planned, with more than half dedicated for the residents of the student apartments.
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.
See also
- Massive 50-storey education campus for international students planned for Surrey City Centre
- International student education campus with hotels proposed for Richmond
- Central City Tower 2: Major new office tower proposed for Surrey City Centre
- 10,000-seat indoor stadium for hockey and concerts envisioned for Surrey
- City of Surrey commits $357 million for 29 new public parks and 11 recreational facilities
- The proposed $150-million indoor water park resort in Surrey has been cancelled
- Surrey's new tallest skyscraper is now open
- Canada Games Pool could be replaced with new $100-million facility