The August Issue of the City Centre Update is now available at SurreyCityCentre.ca. This month’s newsletter includes a round-up of Council Approvals and Construction activity during the past month of July 2021.

Council Approvals

The past month saw 2 major projects receive approvals from Surrey City Council. As of August 2021, there are 37 major projects approved in City Centre, representing 40 high-rise and 25 low-rise buildings.

20 – 0244 | Innovation Village

This 3-tower mixed-use project by WestStone Group on King George Blvd across from Surrey Memorial Hospital received 3rd Reading (Preliminary Approval) on July 26. The application is seeking a Rezoning, OCP & City Centre Plan Amendment, and General Development Permit to allow for three towers to be built in phases.

The tallest tower (37-storeys) closest to King George Blvd is to contain retail & office space on levels 1-5 with residential above. The remaining 2 towers to the east (31 & 12-storeys) are to be entirely residential. Separate detailed Development Permit applications are to follow in the future for each building.

View looking north along new 95 Avenue Plan view of Innovation Village with new 95 Avenue through site

21 – 0072 | Brightside (Phase 3)

Phase 3 of BlueSky’s Brightside development went to Council on July 12, receiving approval to draft Development Permit. This phase of the project will include a 51-Storey mixed condo / rental tower and 2-storey standalone amenity building on the north-east corner of the site along 105 Ave.

The overall Brightside development originally received Rezoning and General Development Permit approval back in March 2020, later revised in February 2021 to include a 4th tower. Phase 1 will consist of a 38-storey rental tower on the south-west corner of the site at 104 Ave & City Parkway.

View looking south-west from King George Blvd towards Tower 3 View of Tower 3 base – looking south along new green lane from 105 Ave View of 2-storey amenity building along 105 Ave Overall Brightside Master Plan – Phase 3 at top right

Construction

The past month saw 2 new major construction starts and 1 completion. As of August 2021, there are 16 major projects under construction in City Centre, representing 15 high-rise and 7 low-rise buildings.

New Construction

Holland Parkside Phase 1 (11-Storey Office + 19-Storey Rental over retail) – Begun excavation Plaza One & Two (41 & 44-storey residential over office & retail) – The final phase of King George Hub has begun excavation

Continued Construction

Rosewood (5-Storey Supportive Housing) – now topped out on 137 St The Holland (25-Storey Residential) – Now at grade with construction beginning on level 1 One Central (44-Storey Residential & Retail) – Podium now topped off at 14 levels, with main tower to rise above University District (28 & 37-Storey Residential & Retail) – Towers beginning to rise above townhouse and retail podiums Parc Centrale (20-Storey Residential + Legion) – Main tower rising above podium on City Parkway Park Boulevard (41-Storey Residential) – Main entry on Park Plaza nearing completion Georgetown One (30-Storey Residential + Retail) – View from Central City Plaza Park George (35 & 39-Storey Residential) – Excavation now bottomed out Ledgeview (6-Storey Residential) – Now topped out at King George Blvd & 132 St with glazing & exterior work underway

Completions

Hub One & Two at King George Hub (29 & 40-Storey Residential) – View from Fraser Hwy & George Junction Hub One & Two at King George Hub (29 & 40-Storey Residential) – View of residential entries and new multi-use path along Fraser Hwy Hub One & Two at King George Hub (29 & 40-Storey Residential) – Retail plaza to open in Fall 2021

The much anticipated ‘Central City II’ office tower will appear before Surrey Council on Monday for 1st & 2nd readings, as part of the first Council meeting since the summer break. Designed by ZGF Architects, the 25-storey (116.5m / 382 ft.) building will be the successor to the iconic Bing Thom designed ‘Central City I’, built in 2003, and bring much needed new office space to Surrey City Centre. Taking design cues from the original tower, while at the same time having its own distinctive architectural expression, the new building will be located just to the south-east of Central City I at the corner of King George Blvd and Old Yale Rd.

In all, the building is proposed to include:

• 567,114 sq.ft. of AAA Office Space and Fitness Club on levels 2-25
• 16,168 sq.ft. of ground-oriented retail, restaurant, and cafe space
• Landscaped roof terraces on levels 3, 5, 10, 21, and 24
• A new dedication of City Parkway
• A new private east-west lane along the north side of the building connecting City Parkway to King George Blvd
• Plazas and Separated Bike Lanes surrounding the building along King George Blvd, Old Yale Rd, and City Parkway

View looking South along SkyTrain Guideway View Looking South-West along King George Blvd View looking North-West at corner of King George Blvd & Old Yale Rd South and East Elevations West and North Elevations

In terms of design, the building consists of a 25-storey tower with distinctive rust-toned metal panels, above a stepped podium, transitioning to different floor plates at levels 3, 5, 10, 21, and 24. The tower maintains a rounded rectangular form above the podium levels, before transitioning to an elliptical shape – similar to ‘Central City I’ at level 21. Above level 25, the vertical fins extend the curtain wall and frame an additional 2 storeys to conceal the rooftop mechanical equipment, and give the building a 27-storey appearance. The fins also provide space for signage, shown in renderings provided by ZGF, with the Central City logo, similar to the original tower. The bulk of the building’s massing is oriented towards King George Blvd and anchored to Old Yale Rd, creating a strong urban street wall and presence. The building tapers down towards the west, with its 4-storey podium extending to City Parkway, and the SkyTrain guideway.

The main entrance to the building will front onto a new public plaza along Old Yale Rd. This plaza will extend around the building on 3 sides, with retail, restaurant, and cafe space spilling out to activate frontages along City Parkway and King George Blvd. The south-west corner of the site at Old Yale Rd and City Parkway has been identified as a location for a future significant public art piece, subject to separate public art plan process.

Ground floor Site Plan Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 3 Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 5 Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 10 Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 21

Replacing the former Best Buy store at the corner of the existing mall parking lot, Central City II represents just phase 1 of a master redevelopment plan for the remainder of the Central City Shopping Centre site. More details of that plan will come through future development applications for subsequent phases. Earlier this year, the mall’s owner Blackwood Partners announced plans for a 1.5 storey addition to the existing parkade along University Drive which is expected to get underway in the coming months. Upon completion, this will allow for the closure of rooftop parking above parts of the existing mall along Old Yale Rd and eventual redevelopment of the site across from Holland Park.

Nearly 3 years since construction began, SFU’s new Sustainable Energy & Environmental Engineering Building officially opened today. The opening was marked with a ceremony attended by BC’s premier John Horgan, MLA’s and other guests. The 5-storey, 220,000 sq.ft. building, designed by Vancouver’s late Bing Thom, has already become a new landmark redefining the Surrey Central area.

As just the first phase in a three-phase expansion plan for SFU in Surrey City Centre, the new building will accommodate 440 full-time students, and be home to SFU’s Mechatronics Systems Engineering (MSE) program with additional space for SFU’s Technology Entrepreneurship program.

In addition to the building itself, the development has contributed to a new high quality streetscape along University Drive with grade-separated bike lanes, benches, and a temporary corner park at 102 Avenue. The grassed corner will remain until 102A Avenue is eventually re-aligned through that space and the Surrey Central Bus Loop, as per the City Centre Plan.

Current temporary corner park at 102 Avenue & University Dr Future re-alignment of 102A Avenue

For more on the new SFU building:

http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2019/04/sfu-opens-new-sustainable-building-as-first-phase-of-surrey-camp.html

A proposal to revitalize the North Surrey Medical Building at 9656 King George Blvd in the emerging Health & Technology District is heading to Council on Monday for 1st & 2nd Readings. The project, by Vancouver’s Rize Alliance, is seeking to restore and integrate the 1960’s North Surrey Medical Building on site into a new mixed-use development consisting of a new 4-storey office and retail podium along King George Blvd, and a new 31-storey residential tower behind. The project was first reported on here back in February when it passed ADP.

According to the Planning Report to Council, the application is seeking both OCP and City Centre Plan amendments for increased density from 3.5 FAR to 5.5 FAR to allow for the proposed development. In exchange for the increased density, the project is proposing to preserve and revitalize the 1960’s North Surrey Medical Building on-site under a Heritage Revitalization Agreement. In total the project is to contain:

• • 293 Apartment Units
  • 5 Townhouse Units
  • 34,369 sq.ft.sq.ft. of Commercial Space with within the revitalized North Surrey Medical Building and new adjacent 4-storey podium (including ground floor retail along King George Blvd)

A landscaped courtyard designed by Vancouver’s PWL Partnership will separate the residential and commercial portions of the project. The Architect on the project is Stantec.

In addition to the revitalization of the North Surrey Medical Building, the applicant will be providing community amenity contributions including funding towards enhancements to Quibble Creek in the area. Contributions will also be provided for construction of a new east-west lane to the directly adjacent north of the site in the future, and towards the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy.

For more information on the project: https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7918-0276-00.pdf

Public consultation is set to get underway this month for the proposed Surrey Langley SkyTrain (SLS) extension, as well as the future of rapid transit along 104 Avenue & King George Blvd.

In 2014, the regional Mayors Council identified Fraser Highway, King George Boulevard, and 104 Avenue as priority corridors for rapid transit South of the Fraser in the 10-Year Vision. Following a study looking at combinations of SkyTrain, LRT, and Bus Rapid Transit for the corridors, the Mayors Council decided on 27-km of urban-style LRT on dedicated track (separate from traffic) on each of the corridors to be built over 2 phases:

• Phase 1: Surrey-Newton-Guildford Line on 104 Avenue & King George Boulevard
• Phase 2: Surrey-Langley Line on Fraser Highway

With funding in place to cover the entire first phase, and construction set to begin this year – a last minute request was made in 2018 by Surrey’s new Council to the regional Mayors’ Council to suspend the Phase 1 Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT line and re-direct funding to the Phase 2 Surrey-Langley line instead, while switching the technology of the Phase 2 line to SkyTrain. The Mayors’ Council voted to move forward with this request, and directed TransLink to begin planning work for SkyTrain on Fraser Highway while at the same time re-visit rapid transit plans for 104 Avenue and King George Boulevard corridors.

Proposed Surrey Langley SkyTrain route and conceptual stations

The switch of priorities to the Phase 2 Fraser Highway line and changing its technology to SkyTrain has had implications both in budget and timeline. The funding that was allocated for the full Phase 1 Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT line has been identified as inadequate to fund the entire Fraser Highway SkyTrain extension to Langley. Pending a future round of funding (timeline unclear), the line may have to be phased, with the current funding getting the line potentially only as far as Fleetwood. Start of construction and delivery of new rapid transit South of the Fraser is also now delayed by approximately 2 years as a result of the switch.

Despite the funding and timeline uncertainties, planning work is nonetheless well underway for the new SLS line, which will need to involve a significant re-evaluation of land-use plans along the Fraser Highway corridor to support SkyTrain, completion of a number of supportive studies, and extensive Public Consultation. In a project update report to Surrey Council this week – a preliminary timeline was given for this work by TransLink, with start of service targeted for 2025.

To run concurrently with the SLS planning and consultation work will be a planning process to ‘refresh’ the South Fraser Rapid Transit Strategy for delivering the Mayors’ Council fully envisioned 27km of Rapid Transit along each of the Fraser Hwy, King George Blvd, and 104 Ave corridors. This refresh will look to re-examine and engage the public on what rapid transit along the remaining corridors could look like, now that SkyTrain has been chosen as the technology for Fraser Hwy. The 2013 Rapid Transit Alternatives Study identified Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for these corridors based on a scenario with SkyTrain on Fraser Hwy. With much LRT planning work having now been completed however, for the 104 Ave and King George Blvd corridors, it’s possible that LRT could still be an option for them rather than BRT, especially given Surrey’s long-term rapid transit vision for an extensive LRT network on major arterials across the City.

The first round of Public Consultation on the SLS line and South Fraser Rapid Transit refresh gets underway on April 11 in Langley, with open houses in Surrey on April 15, 16, and 17. TransLink has also recently launched an online survey where you can voice your feedback on the proposed SLS line. Open House times are set for the following dates and locations between 3-8pm:

• Thursday, April 11 – Langley City Hall
• Monday, April 15 – Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex (Fleetwood)
• Tuesday, April 16 – Surrey City Hall
• Wednesday, April 17 – Newton Seniors Centre

More info on the land-use planning review process for the Fraser Highway Corridor being undertaken by the City of Surrey can be found here: https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/CR_2019-R059.pdf

View looking west along 104 Avenue from King George Blvd

Surrey Council gave 1st & 2nd Readings on Monday night to Bosa BlueSky’s next project in Surrey City Centre – Brightside – which will now head to Public Hearing and 3rd Reading (Preliminary Approval) in 2 weeks. The project, which has been under application for the past 2 years, is set to transform the former Brick / Sears Outlet store site at City Parkway & 104 Avenue, which has been sitting vacant for numerous years now. Overall, the application is seeking:

• A General Development Permit (Form & Character) for the entire site to allow for a phased, mixed-used development consisting of 3 high-rise and 2 low-rise buildings, including:
  • 40-Storey residential tower with ground floor retail (Phase 1)
  • 50-Storey mixed-use residential tower with ground floor retail and 17 floors of office in a stepped podium (Future Phase)
  • 50-Storey residential tower with market and rental units (Future Phase)
  • 2.5-Storey market-hall commercial building
  • 2-Storey amenity building
• A Detailed Development Permit for phase 1 of the project.
• OCP Amendment and City Centre Plan amendments to allow for up to 7.5 FAR (9.2 FAR net) density.
• Rezoning
• Consolidation from 2 existing lots to 2 new lots.

View looking north along City Parkway from Surrey Central Station View from public and amenity space within interior of site looking south View looking east along 104 Avenue Future ‘Market-hall’ commercial building in centre of site as part of future phases.

Designed by Perkins & Will, the first phase of the project, a 40-Storey residential tower with ground-floor retail, is to be located at the corner of City Parkway and 104 Avenue and will include:

• 418 Market Residential Units
• 2,831 sq.ft. of ground floor Retail

The remaining buildings, subject to future Detailed Development Permit applications, will be located further east along 104 Avenue and north along 105 Avenue. The tallest of the towers, the 50-Storey mixed-use building with 17-Storey office podium, would become the new tallest in Surrey once complete, assuming no other building surpasses it by then, at 554 ft. (169m). The two future low-rise amenity, and market-hall buildings located in the centre of the site are to be set within a publicly accessible plaza that will invite people into the site from 104 Avenue. The plaza will be activated by retail and restaurant spaces at grade, as well as landscaping, and public art, subject to future detailed design.

In total once all phases are complete, the project will include:

• 1,352 Residential Units (including 200 rental units)
• 202,146 sq.ft. of Office
• 37,049 sq.ft. of Retail

In addition to the buildings on site, the project will also bring into alignment the intersection of City Parkway and 104 Avenue. The north and south portions of City Parkway on either side of 104 Avenue currently do not connect. This alignment is expected to be completed as part of the first phase, with tower 1 to be aligned on an angle with the newly constructed City Parkway.

Phase 1 of the project is expected to be completed by 2025, with the remaining buildings to follow later in the decade. For more on the project:

https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7918-0350-00.pdf

The much anticipated ‘Central City II’ office tower will appear before Surrey Council on Monday for 1st & 2nd readings, as part of the first Council meeting since the summer break. Designed by ZGF Architects, the 25-storey (116.5m / 382 ft.) building will be the successor to the iconic Bing Thom designed ‘Central City I’, built in 2003, and bring much needed new office space to Surrey City Centre. Taking design cues from the original tower, while at the same time having its own distinctive architectural expression, the new building will be located just to the south-east of Central City I at the corner of King George Blvd and Old Yale Rd.

In all, the building is proposed to include:

• 567,114 sq.ft. of AAA Office Space and Fitness Club on levels 2-25
• 16,168 sq.ft. of ground-oriented retail, restaurant, and cafe space
• Landscaped roof terraces on levels 3, 5, 10, 21, and 24
• A new dedication of City Parkway
• A new private east-west lane along the north side of the building connecting City Parkway to King George Blvd
• Plazas and Separated Bike Lanes surrounding the building along King George Blvd, Old Yale Rd, and City Parkway

View looking South along SkyTrain Guideway View Looking South-West along King George Blvd View looking North-West at corner of King George Blvd & Old Yale Rd South and East Elevations West and North Elevations

In terms of design, the building consists of a 25-storey tower with distinctive rust-toned metal panels, above a stepped podium, transitioning to different floor plates at levels 3, 5, 10, 21, and 24. The tower maintains a rounded rectangular form above the podium levels, before transitioning to an elliptical shape – similar to ‘Central City I’ at level 21. Above level 25, the vertical fins extend the curtain wall and frame an additional 2 storeys to conceal the rooftop mechanical equipment, and give the building a 27-storey appearance. The fins also provide space for signage, shown in renderings provided by ZGF, with the Central City logo, similar to the original tower. The bulk of the building’s massing is oriented towards King George Blvd and anchored to Old Yale Rd, creating a strong urban street wall and presence. The building tapers down towards the west, with its 4-storey podium extending to City Parkway, and the SkyTrain guideway.

The main entrance to the building will front onto a new public plaza along Old Yale Rd. This plaza will extend around the building on 3 sides, with retail, restaurant, and cafe space spilling out to activate frontages along City Parkway and King George Blvd. The south-west corner of the site at Old Yale Rd and City Parkway has been identified as a location for a future significant public art piece, subject to separate public art plan process.

Ground floor Site Plan Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 3 Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 5 Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 10 Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 21

Replacing the former Best Buy store at the corner of the existing mall parking lot, Central City II represents just phase 1 of a master redevelopment plan for the remainder of the Central City Shopping Centre site. More details of that plan will come through future development applications for subsequent phases. Earlier this year, the mall’s owner Blackwood Partners announced plans for a 1.5 storey addition to the existing parkade along University Drive which is expected to get underway in the coming months. Upon completion, this will allow for the closure of rooftop parking above parts of the existing mall along Old Yale Rd and eventual redevelopment of the site across from Holland Park.

Two separate Development Applications have been submitted for a pair of projects between University Dr & City Parkway and 105 Ave & 105A Ave, just to the south of the BC Lions Training facility.

According to Surrey’s COSMOS, the application on the westerly block is to allow for 873 residential units (approximately 2 towers above podiums), while the application on the easterly block is to also allow for 2 towers above podiums with no unit count given. The applications are also proposing OCP and City Centre Plan amendments to re-designate the sites from 3.5 FAR to 5.5 FAR to allow for increased density. Interestingly, the applicant on the easterly site is listed as Concord Pacific – indicating a new venture for them in Surrey City Centre, to follow their existing ‘Park’ development near King George. The applicant on the westerly site is listed as IBI Group, although the applications could be related.

The subject sites have been vacant grassed lots for decades, and are bisected by the SkyTrain guideway between Surrey Central Station and Gateway Station. While the area may feel vacant now, just to the south across 105 Avenue, Bosa’s 28 & 37-storey University District towers are expected to begin construction within the next year. Also just to the north at City Parkway and 106 Avenue, Lark Group’s 20-story Legion Veteran’s Village project is now under construction.

Site looking north-east from University Dr & 105 Ave Site looking south-east from University Dr & 105A Ave Site looking south from 105A Ave Site looking south-west from 105A Ave & City Parkway Site looking north from 105 Ave Site’s within City Centre Plan Birds-eye view of Sites

The December Issue of the City Centre Monthly Update is now out at SurreyCityCentre.ca. This month’s newsletter includes a round-up of new Development Applications, Council Approvals, and Construction activity over the past month.

New Development Applications

Four new major development applications were submitted within City Centre during the past month of November 2020, bringing the total number of major projects under initial review to 34. This represents approximately 27 HighRises (

Rize Alliance has begun pre-sales on the second phase of their 2-tower project at 133 St & 104 Ave in the growing West Village neighbourhood. The first phase of the project – the 28-storey ‘Wave’ condo tower – was completed back in 2014, with the second phase originally set to be called ‘Wynd’. Four years later, that name has now changed with the launch of a new marketing campaign and registration site set up for phase 2 under the name ‘Linea’.

With phase 2 of the project having already been approved as part of the original application for the site, Linea is likely to proceed with construction soon after sales. Despite the name change, the tower will retain its originally approved design – a twin of the Wave tower – featuring distinctive curved balconies and vibrant orange accents on the building’s exterior. Not only will Linea bring a twin tower to the development, but it will also complete the site which has been sitting vacant for years, bringing a new row of urban street-fronting townhouses along both 133 St and 104 Avenue, and a substantial outdoor amenity area / park. The website for the project www.liveatlinea.com is now open for registration offering 1, 2 & 3 bedroom condos and townhouses.

The completed Wave tower – Phase 1 of project

Site Plan for Wave (Tower ‘A’) and Linea (Tower ‘B’)

Linea site within City Centre Plan

With sales now just around the corner, Linea will likely begin construction in 2019, making it the 5th residential tower expected to start next year in the red hot Surrey City Centre condo market, following 3 condo towers expected to start this year, and 2 office towers. It was noted in the Spring 2018 issue of West Coast Condo that benchmark prices for condos in Surrey City Centre led all of Metro Vancouver in growth over the past year – up 45.6% between December 2016 and December 2017. Despite the price growth, Surrey City Centre still remains one of the most affordable areas to buy a condo in Metro Vancouver, and the best place to invest in real estate in BC for future growth.

For more:
http://liveatlinea.com
https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7911-0075-00.pdf

King George Hub Phasing Plan

A development application has been submitted for Phase ‘C’ of PCI Group’s ‘King George Hub’ at Fraser Hwy & King George Blvd next to King George Station. Details of the application indicate that Phase ‘C’ will consist of a single 34-storey mixed-use tower just to the east of Phase ‘A’ – the landmark 10-storey Coast Capital Savings headquarters built in 2014. No renderings of the tower have been released at this time, but the project is proposed to contain 363 residential units above 10,000 sq.ft. of ground-level retail.

With the application just submitted, it is expected that Phase ‘C’ will not likely begin construction until around 2020/21, around the time when Phase ‘B’ reaches completion. It could however be fast-tracked to begin sooner, given the strong response for Phase ‘B’ – which sold out both its residential towers in a matter of days. Phase ‘B’ is set to begin construction in the coming months, and will contain 29 & 40-storey residential towers, a 15-storey office tower, a 2-storey (9,376 sq.ft.) standalone restaurant next to the Coast Capital Savings Headquarters, and 112,535 sq.ft. of retail.

King George Hub Phases A & B – Facing North-West King George Hub Phases A & B – Facing North-East King George Hub Phase A & B – View North from King George Blvd View South of Phase ‘B’ Retail Plaza View South of Phase ‘B’ Retail Plaza 41st floor residential rooftop amenity area – Phase ‘B’

Following Phase ‘C’ will be the final phase of King George Hub – Phase ‘D’. No details of Phase ‘D’ have been released yet, but this last piece of the site at the corner of Fraser Hwy and Whalley Blvd is expected to add 2-3 more residential towers above retail. Full buildout of all phases is expected to be complete around 2025, and will be accompanied by numerous other surrounding projects – also expected to complete within that timeframe.

For more on King George Hub:
http://kinggeorgehub.com/

The long-awaited first phase of Surrey’s LRT is a go-ahead, following today’s announcement of an agreement between the provincial government and the Mayor’s Council to fund the project. Billed as the largest transit and transportation investment in the history of the Metro Vancouver region, the plan will see:

• Construction of the Surrey Guildford-Newton Light Rail (LRT)
• Construction of Millennium Line Broadway Extension
• Significant upgrade of existing Expo-Millennium Lines to expand capacity to meet and improve the customer experience
• An 8% increase in bus service to address overcrowding, reduce wait times and bring bus services to communities with limited service
• Improvements to sidewalks, bikeways, multi-use pathways and roadways

According to the media release, delivery of these projects will be funded by:

• $1.6 billion in fare revenues expected from higher ridership resulting from service expansion in Phase Two, TransLink resources and efficiencies.
• A 2% increase to all transit fares over two years beginning in 2020.
• Parking lot sales tax increase of 15 cents per hour for an average $5 per hour parking.
• $5.50 increase in property taxes per average household each year or about 46 cents a month, beginning in 2019.
• About $300 to $600/unit increase to the Development Cost Charge on new residential developments depending on type of dwelling.
• Revenue from a variety of transit-related commercial opportunities.

Construction by 2019 – Phase 1 Completion by 2024

While federal matching of the provincial funding still needs to be finalized, it is expected that the first phase of the Surrey LRT line between Guildford – City Centre – Newton will likely be under construction by late 2019, with completion by 2024. Not only will the project bring a new a rapid transit line to the South Fraser, it will also be a game-changer in how it will integrate with, and transform the neighbourhoods it passes through. In conjunction with the City Centre Plan and the Guildford-104 Avenue Plan, LRT corridors will be gradually transformed with 4-6-storey density along each route, with higher density mixed-use nodes at key intersections and throughout City Centre, Guildford Town Centre, and Newton Town Centre.

Planned route of Phase 1 & 2 of the Surrey LRT network Conceptual rendering of a revitalized Newton Town Centre with LRT integration Conceptual rendering of King George Blvd in Newton with LRT, bike-lanes, and 4-6-storey urban density Conceptual rendering of LRT plaza integration at Newton Town Centre Conceptual rendering of LRT integration along a repurposed 104 Avenue corridor LRT integration on a pedestrianized City Parkway at Central Ave in City Centre

A new tier of rapid transit for Metro Vancouver

LRT will introduce a new layer of rapid transit service to Metro Vancouver that is complimentary to SkyTrain. It will serve as a more localized, finer-grained service, compared to SkyTrain which can be seen as more of a regional commuter train service. Tiered transit systems are common around the world, with various forms of rail combining to form an intricate and dynamic transit network. A good example of this is Berlin, Germany where there are 4 tiers of rail within its robust transit network. These include:

• Regional Train (Comparable to WestCoast Express)
• S-Bahn (Suburban service)
• U-Bahn (Urban service – Comparable to SkyTrain)
• MetroTram LRT (Fine-grained urban service)

All of these lines converge at hub stations, with each tier serving a specific purpose.

Berlin rapid transit system featuring 4 tiers of rail – LRT lines shown in light grey

Example – Tiers of Rail Transit in Berlin

Regional Train (Comparable to West Coast Express) S-Bahn – Suburban service (No comparison in Metro Vancouver) U-Bahn – Urban service (Comparable to SkyTrain) MetroTram (LRT) – Fine-grained urban service

Surrey LRT will bring the first fine-grained rail service to Metro Vancouver – appropriate for routes that are more localized, and less regional – such as the Guildford-City Centre-Newton line – but connecting to SkyTrain for regional commuter travel at hub stations. It is likely that we could see LRT build elsewhere in the region following Surrey, given its cost-effectiveness and appropriate scale for many other parts of the region.

The City of Surrey held a public open house last week on the in-progress, Guildford Town Centre – 104 Avenue Plan. The plan, which has been under study since last year, is seeking to define a vision and prepare a long-range land-use plan to guide future growth along the 104 Avenue Corridor and Guildford Town Centre areas.

Presented to the public at the open house last week were 2 land-use concept options, along with a proposed street network, bicycle and pedestrian network, and parks and open space concept.

Land-Use Concept Option 1: Focused Growth

Land-Use Concept Option 1 seeks to focus growth and density in key areas of the plan, such as along 104 Avenue and areas surrounding Guildford Town Centre. The plan envisions:

• A continuous stretch of 6-storey mixed-use/apartments (Dark orange) along 104 Avenue
• Mid to high-rise mixed-use (pink) at 104 Ave & 144 St.
• Mid to high-rise along 104 Ave east of 148 St and to the north and east of Guildford Town Centre – with the tallest tower heights (purple) concentrated on the former Sears site.
• 4-storey apartment areas (light orange) dispersed throughout the plan area
• Townhouses (yellow) in a few areas
• Single Family housing preserved in a number of areas, mostly west of 148 St.

Land-Use Concept Option 1: Focused Growth

Land-Use Concept Option 2: Dispersed Growth

Land-Use Concept Option 2, while very similar, seeks to disperse growth and densities over the plan area, with lower intensities of density, but increased density covering more area. This includes:

• A wider continuous stretch of 6-storey mixed-use/apartments (Dark orange) along 104 Avenue
• Mid to high-rise mixed-use (Pink) to the north and east of Guildford Town Centre.
• 4-storey apartment areas (light orange) more widely dispersed throughout the plan area
• Townhouses (yellow) more widely dispersed across the plan area
• Slightly less preserved Single Family housing.

Land-Use Concept Option 2: Dispersed Growth

Proposed Street Network

The proposed street network adds a number of new local and collector streets to improve connectivity through a finer-grained network. One of these new collectors is the currently underway 105A Avenue connector project which will provide an alternate east-west route to 104 Avenue linking City Centre to Guildford. A long-range new street network is shown on the site of Guildford Town Shopping Centre – envisioning the future redevelopment of this mall into an urban district far into the future – similar to the vision for the Metropolis at Metrotown Shopping Centre site in Burnaby under the Metrotown Plan.

Proposed Bike and Pedestrian Network

The proposed bike and pedestrian network creates a number of new multi-use paths and road-separated bike lanes improving connectivity throughout the plan area. Pedestrian and cycling crossings at busy intersections would be enhanced under the plan to improve safety and streetscape integration. Existing bike lanes would be upgraded to be physically separated from the road.

Proposed Parks and Open Space

The proposed parks and open space plan illustrates how parks, habitat areas, and the city’s Green Infrastructure Network will be integrated into the plan area. A key feature of the plan is a ‘Green Loop’ pedestrian and cycling network stretching east-west with north-south connections – improving non-automobile connectivity in the area and connecting the many parks. In addition to existing parks shown in light green, many new parks are shown in dark green, including expansions to Hawthorne Park.

Future Light Rail Transit (LRT)

An integral part of the 104 Avenue – Guildford Town Centre Plan area will be the new LRT line linking City Centre to Guildford along 104 Avenue, and further south to Newton. This urban-style, low floor, LRT system will not just be a rapid transit line passing through the area, but a fully streetscape-integrated, centrepiece of the 104 Avenue corridor. Combined with a continuous 6-storey mixed-use density along 104 Avenue, the corridor will be transformed into a transit/pedestrian-oriented and prioritized streetscape, similar to precedents in Europe and elsewhere around the world. The LRT will support the densities along the the 104 Avenue Corridor, and integrate seamlessly into the community – unlike SkyTrain which bisects and has a negative visual and physical impact on the streetscape.

To find out more about the Guildford Town Centre – 104 Avenue Plan, and participate in the public survey – visit:
http://www.surrey.ca/city-services/24723.aspx

PCI Development’s King George Hub project has officially sold out both residential towers within Phase B of the project. The 40-storey tower first went to market in October, quickly selling out, followed by the 29-storey tower in November. Phase B will also include a 15-storey office tower, 2-storey stand-alone restaurant, as well as over 100,000 sq.ft. of retail space integrated with a plaza.

According to the King George Hub Sales Team, over 12,000 people registered as interested purchasers for the 738 units. Given this unprecedented demand for a condo project in Surrey City Centre, units were allocated through a lottery system. Of those units sold:

• 697 were purchased by local residents
• 1 in 4 were first-time home buyers
• 65% of buyers currently live within 20km
• 30% of buyers currently live in Vancouver

With the success of King George Hub selling out so quickly, PCI developments has indicated that they are now moving forward with plans for Phase C of the project, which should include 1 additional residential tower to the east of the existing Coast Capital Savings headquarters. A future Phase D is set to follow that with space for up to 3 more towers, however detailed plans for both sites have yet to be finalized or released.

Plan showing King George Hub Phasing – Future phases C & D to the north and east of Phase B

With sales now complete, and final approval in place, it is expected that Phase B of King George Hub will begin construction by Spring 2018. This should be joined by Concord Pacific’s 42-storey Park Boulevard project just north of King George Station around the same time, making for 4 new towers starting construction within the area immediately surrounding King George Station. For more on King George Hub:

http://kinggeorgehub.com

The official lighting of Surrey’s Christmas Tree was held back on November 19th as part of the city’s 6th annual Tree Lighting Festival. Since then, the 55 foot tree along with other festive lighting has lit up the plaza, in what is one of the best Christmas Tree displays to be found anywhere, and arguably the best in the Metro Vancouver area. The tree itself is billed as BC’s tallest Christmas Tree, and is a must see for anyone that hasn’t yet in person.

Over the past weekend a 2nd tower crane was added at the SFU Surrey expansion project, bringing the total number of cranes in the immediate vicinity to 5, and the total number in City Centre to 8. While the building under construction will only be 5 storeys in height, its large footprint and accelerated construction schedule are both likely reasonings for the addition of a 2nd crane. It is also worth noting that the building will be higher than a typical 5 storey building, with a planned height of 35m (115′) according to a Surrey Planning Report. For comparison, this is closer in height to a 9 or 10 storey condominium building.

This newest crane adds to the growing number of cranes in Surrey’s rapidly changing skyline. The number of cranes currently up is unprecedented in the city’s history, and a visible sign that development within City Centre is now accelerating. Given the large number of development applications already underway for future towers, the sight of cranes across Surrey’s skyline will likely only continue to grow in the coming years.

Further to news earlier this month on the moving forward of the Veterans Village Project, on the site of the Whalley Legion, more details were released late last week showing a major re-design of the project.

The previous concept prepared by Michael Green Architecture for a twin-tower development has since been replaced by a single, ‘stepped’ tower concept over what appears to be a 2-storey podium. In addition, a large portion of the site is shown to be dedicated as an open plaza/park space, forming what would be Surrey’s equivalent to Victory Square in Downtown Vancouver. The proposed plaza would provide a new space for Remembrance Day ceremonies in Surrey and serve as a permanent memorial space.

Despite the reduced scope of the project from a twin tower concept to a single tower, the project continues to take design inspiration from the twin tower Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France. As depicted in the concept, the tower features 2 red decorative beams running up the height of the tower, reminiscent of the memorial. Still no confirmation on height, however a Surrey Now article mentions a height of between 16-28 storeys.

While no application has yet been submitted on the project, the developer Lark Group, hopes to begin site preparation and construction by as early as Spring 2017. The project is said to still be seeking funding sources, some of which could come through Federal Infrastructure funding, currently being lobbied for.

http://www.thenownewspaper.com/news/400750081.html

http://journalofcommerce.com/Projects/News/2016/11/BC-Veterans-Village-project-a-step-closer-to-reality-1019666W/

The much anticipated government funding for the SFU Surrey expansion was finally announced today at a much-publicized event on the Surrey campus. At the event, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Christy Clark announced Federal and Provincial funding in the amount of $45 million each to the project. This funding will go towards the already underway first phase of a 3-phase expansion of the campus, with an additional $26 million from SFU and donors to fund future phases 2 and 3 on the remaining recreation centre surface parking lots.

While today’s announcement was news to many, UrbanSurrey first reported on the SFU expansion back in early June 2016 after a development application was submitted by SFU on the subject site at University Drive and 102 Avenue. Since then, today’s announcement has revealed that the new building is on track to open in Spring 2018, and that it will house the proposed Energy Systems and Environmental Engineering Program – an interdisciplinary engineering stream that will support the clean tech and sustainable energy sector.

New renderings were also released today, similar to those posted by UrbanSurrey back in July. The Bing Thom designed building will be a great addition to the City Centre as part of a rapidly changing University Drive.

https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2016/sfu-moves-ahead-with-surrey-campus-expansion.html

The fast moving SFU Surrey expansion project, which began excavation just 2 months ago, has now installed its crane. The 5-storey, Bing Thom Architects designed Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering Building project is proceeding at a rampant pace to meet an April 2018 deadline for substantial completion. As of now, the north end of the site adjacent to the under construction Prime development is nearly completely dug, with just the south end remaining to be dug before construction can commence on the underground levels of the building.

Today’s installation adds to the growing number of cranes in Surrey City Centre, which now has a total of 7 cranes, with 1 more likely on the way within the next month. The presence of this many cranes represents the largest construction boom ever experienced in the City Centre, and a sign that momentum is picking up for development in the area. The next 5-10 years are likely to bring more transformation to the area than its seen in its entire history.

Initially announced back in the Fall 0f 2015, the Whalley Legion Veterans Village project took a major step forward today, announcing a partnership with Surrey-based developer Lark Group, to develop twin towers on the site of the existing Whalley Legion at 13525 106 Ave.

As per the news release, the twin tower project of unspecified height will be a multi-purpose facility and a centre of excellence in clinical and rehabilitation services for Veterans and first responders. It will offer a mixture of social and affordable housing, assisted living, a therapeutic centre, community gardens, research centre, and space for the delivery of health care programs and services.

The news release states that the next step in the process is to work with Lark Group to finalize the scope of the project, and it is expected that site preparations and construction could be underway by spring 2017. This timeline seems ambitious given there has yet to be a development application submitted for the project, and given the time necessary to move the application through the approvals process. With Lark Group as the partnering developer however, the project is now very likely to move forward, given Lark Group’s experience in developing large projects in Surrey, most notably the City Centre 1 and City Centre 2 office towers adjacent to Surrey Memorial Hospital.

Aside from being a major redevelopment of the Whalley Legion itself, the iconic twin tower concept for the project designed by Michael Green Architecture could be a catalyst for rejuvenation of the area between 104th Avenue and 108th Avenue. The project is located directly adjacent to Surrey’s notorious 135A “Strip”. So far not many details have been released on the towers themselves, only that the design is conceptual, and that it will be greater than 20 storeys in height. When complete, the facility will be the first of its kind in Canada.

http://www.larkgroup.com/legion-veterans-village-project-takes-a-major-step-forward/

More on the project:

http://www.legionbcyukon.ca/content/canadas-first-veterans-village

On Friday, an article was published in the Globe & Mail by urban politics and issues writer Frances Bula titled ‘Surrey’s vision for the future is slow in coming‘, shining a spotlight on the city centre’s transformation, that has indeed been slow in coming. Up until now.

A Brief History of Surrey City Centre – 1991-2005

The vision for Surrey’s City Centre is nothing new. The first City Centre Plan was completed back in 1991, and was only just recently updated as of January this year after a lengthy 10-year review beginning in 2006. Looking back at how the city centre has developed since that initial plan’s adoption, it’s clear to see that development through much of the 1990s and 2000’s had been sparse and slow to materialize, sparking the need for a renewed vision to move the city centre forward. Aside from an initial spike in development between 1994-1995, when SkyTrain was first extended to the area, and a total of 7 high-rise towers were completed within a short time span, the decade that followed was markedly different.

Intrawest/Intracorp initially had a master plan for a community around Gateway Station in the early 1990’s which was to include a total of 5 high-rise office towers, and 11 high-rise residential towers. 3 of these residential towers and 1 of the office towers were completed in the 1994-1995 boom, including the 18-Storey signature Station Tower. Following this initial spike, the remaining lands sat vacant for over a decade, until 3 of the initially slated high-rise residential sites were eventually developed as 4-storey condo buildings between 2008-2011. Intrawest/Intracorp has since sold of the remainder of their lands to other developers, with the initial master plan never coming to fruition.

Another 90’s master planned community which was to see a number of towers developed around King George Station saw only 1 tower built in 1994, with the remaining lands sitting vacant for over a decade as well, until eventually being bought and developed in the mid-2000’s – first as Infinity, then later evolving into Concord Pacific’s Park Place.

Completion 1991-1995:

• 1994: Cornerstone 1 & 2 (Gateway) | 18 & 21-storey condo towers
• 1994: Station Tower | 18-storey office tower
• 1994: Odyssey Tower | 21-storey condo tower
• 1994: Balmoral Tower | 15-storey condo tower
• 1995: Grandview Court | 16-storey condo tower
• 1995: Observatory (Gateway) | 22-storey condo tower

In the decade between 1996 and 2005, development in Surrey City Centre was indeed so slow that only 1 tower was built – the city’s iconic, Bing Thom designed, Central City office tower, completed in 2003 as part of a massive redevelopment of former Surrey Place Mall by ICBC into a re-branded shopping centre, TechBC (later SFU) university, and office tower.

Completion 1996-2005:

• 2003: Central City – 26-storey office tower, university, retail

Surrey City Centre’s Turning Point – 2006-2015

Following a decade of very little development activity which saw only 1 tower built between 1996 and 2005, a total of 4 new high-rise towers were built in Surrey City Centre between 2006 – 2010.

Completion 2006-2010:

• 2006: Infinity (now Concord Park Place) | 36-storey condo tower
• 2009: D’Corize | 22-storey condo tower
• 2009: City Point | 21 and 25-storey condo towers with retail

In the 5 years that followed, development activity grew more. A total of 6 high/mid-rise towers were completed between 2011-2015, along side the new Surrey City Hall, the Bing Thom designed City Centre Library, and Surrey’s new civic plaza which will see future expansion.

Completion 2011-2015:

• 2011: Park Place | 2 x 36-storey condo towers
• 2011: Surrey City Centre Library
• 2013: Ultra | 35-storey condo tower
• 2013: Surrey City Hall
• 2014: City Centre 1 | 12-storey office tower
• 2014: Coast Capital headquarters | 9-storey office tower
• 2015: Wave | 28-storey condo tower

In total, the 10-year period between 2006 to 2015 saw more development activity in Surrey City Centre than the previous 15 years combined, along with a new civic heart. Following a period of very little growth between 1996 and 2005, a sure sign that the tide may be changing.

2016 and onward

Since the relocation of Surrey City Hall to the city centre in 2013, and the opening of Civic Plaza, investment in the area has markedly picked up, with a long list of active development applications now in process at the city. Following a relatively strong decade of growth between 2006 and 2015, in 2016, Surrey City Centre was showing signs of coming to fruition, and ripe for the adoption of the new Surrey City Centre Plan. In the past year, 2 towers have been completed, with 4 more scheduled for completion in 2017, and an additional 4 scheduled for completion in 2018. In 2017, this will include the iconic new 52-storey 3 Civic Plaza, Mixed-Use (Hotel, Office, Condo, University, Retail), which is already re-defining and transforming the city centre’s core and image. In total the 2016-2020 period will see a total of 12 significant buildings completed, up from 8 in the previous 5 years.

Completion 2016-2020:

• 2016: University District (Phase 1) | Condo, Office, Retail | 32 Floors
• 2016: Park Avenue East | Condo | 36 Floors
• 2017: Park Avenue West | Condo | 39 Floors
• 2017: 3 Civic Plaza | Condo, Hotel, University, Retail |52 Floors
• 2017: Bosa’s Gateway Place |Office, Retail | 5 Floors
• 2018: Prime on the Plaza | Condo, Retail | 37 Floors
• 2018: Evolve | Condo, Office, Retail | 36 Floors
• 2018: City Centre 2 | Office, Retail | 12 Floors
• 2018: SFU Sustainable Energy / Engineering Building | 5 Floors
• 2019 (estimated): Innovation village | Care Facility, Office, Seniors | 12 Floors
• 2020 (estimated): Concord Park Boulevard | Condo | 42 Floors
• 2020 (estimated): West Village Phase 5 | Rental, Office, Retail | 44 Floors

Looking ahead to 2021 and beyond, it is clear to see that the pace of growth in Surrey City Centre is only set to intensify if the number of approved and active development applications are any indication. In total, aside from buildings now under construction and scheduled for completion by 2020, beyond this there are 47 additional towers under active application or known to be in the planning stages in Surrey City Centre. While the timeline for completion of many of these towers is uncertain based on market conditions, it is likely that many will see completion within the next decade, given Surrey’s strong population growth, doubling Vancouver in growth between 2011-2016. While much of this growth has been concentrated in newer developing areas of the city such as South Surrey, South Newton, and Cloverdale, it is reasonable to assume that Surrey City Centre will start to take on a greater share of future growth as it reaches a critical threshold of density (which it appears to be now), and its subsequent image and desiraiblity improves. Combine this with the affordability crisis north of the fraser, and the comparable price of condos, Surrey City Centre begins to become more and more attractive.

With this direction that Surrey City Centre is heading, already a number of major developers in the region have significant land holdings in the area, including projects completed, under application, or in the planning stages.

Completion beyond 2021 (Proposed and under application):

• GEC Education Mega Centre | Student Housing, Hotel, Institutional | 50 Floors
• University District (Phase 2) | Condo, Office, Retail | 26 + 32 Floors
  
• Hub at King George | Condo, Office, Retail | 12 + 20 + 32 + 38 + 39 + 42 Floors
• Wynd |Condo | 28 Floors
• City Centre 3 | Office | 8 Floors
• 13778 100 Ave | Condo | 20 + 46 Floors
• Tien Sher 108 Ave & King George |Condo, Retail | 6 + 35 + 37 + 46 Floors
• Old Yale & 133 St | Condo | 22 Floors
• Seagate Gateway | Condo | 30 + 37 Floors
• Holland Point | Condo, Office Retail | 30 + 36 + 41 Floors  
• 98th & King George | Condo, Hotel | 30 Floors
• 9677 King George | Care Facility, Office | 18 Floors
• Anthem Properties | Condo, Office, Retail | 7 Towers
• 133 St & 103A Ave | Condo | 18 Floors
• West Village Phase 6-8 | Condo, Office, Retail | 37 + 38 + 42 Floors
• City Centre YMCA
• Bosa University District (Future Phases) | Condo, Retail | 5 Towers
• Bosa Gateway Place (Phase 2-3) | Condo | 2 Towers
• Veterans Village / Whalley Legion | Care Facility, Office | 20 Floors
• SFU Expansion (Phases 2-3)

This list will of course continue to grow as new applications are submitted.

For an active list and map of Surrey City Centre projects, see the UrbanSurrey Active Projects Page

Updated May 10, 2017

A development application has been submitted for a mixed-use tower at 10731 King George Blvd just south of 108 Avenue. The subject site is made up of 3 existing lots which currently contain a run-down 2-storey commercial/residential building, and a 1-storey medical clinic.

The subject application is proposing to consolidate the 3 lots into 1, rezone the site from CHI to CD (based on RM-135 and C-15), as well amend the City Centre Plan to permit a 345-unit mixed-use development. The site is currently designated ‘Mixed-Use (3.5 FAR)’ under the City Centre Plan. In addition to redevelopment of the site, the application would also dedicate a portion of future 107A Avenue just to the South. The 2 adjacent properties to the South are currently owned by the City for the purposes of completing this new road connection.

View of Site from King George Blvd Subject Site within City Centre Plan – Designated Mixed-Use 3.5 FAR

The subject site is located directly across King George Blvd from Tien Sher’s anticipated ‘Whalley District’ development, set to replace the recently closed-down Flamingo Hotel and Bar. Combined, both projects would mark the beginning of renewal and transformation of the area surrounding King George & 108 Avenue, which has become notoriously run-down over the past few decades. This area is designated as a ‘Historic District’ in the City Centre Plan, due to its historical significance as the place of Surrey’s early urban beginnings surrounding the former ‘Whalley’s Corner’ Gas Stop.

For more on the application:

https://apps.surrey.ca/Online-Development-Inquiry/?year=19&seq=0048

A development application has been submitted for a new mixed-use project on 104 Ave near Whalley Blvd. The subject site is made up of 3 existing properties that span the block between 104 Ave and Central Ave just east of Whalley Blvd. The site is currently occupied by a run-down early 1970’s strip mall known as ‘Plaza 104’.

According to details of the development application, the applicant – Andrew Cheung Architects – is seeking to rezone the property and amend both the Official Community Plan and City Centre Plan for increased density from 3.5 FAR to 5.5 FAR to allow for a phased 1149 unit mixed-use development containing 10,720 sq.ft. of commercial space. This translates into approximately 3 high-rise residential towers above retail. In addition, the development would dedicate a new north-south road through the site, as well as 2 new lanes as per the City Centre Plan.

The current application is seeking a Development Permit for phase 1, which is to contain a single tower (383 units) and all 10,720 sq.ft. of commercial space on a newly subdivided parcel fronting 104 Avenue. The remaining phases of the project to the south would be subject to future applications.

Site in context of the City Centre Plan showing future road and lane dedications Subject Site on 104 Avenue east of Whalley Blvd containing a 1970’s strip mall Birds-eye view of site looking south from 104 Ave

For more on the application: https://apps.surrey.ca/Online-Development-Inquiry/?year=19&seq=0060

After nearly 2 years of construction, the Surrey Central Station north station house expansion officially opened to the public this weekend. Designed by OMB Architects, the new 2-storey station house is now the largest entrance at the station, fronting directly onto the corner of Central Avenue and City Parkway across from Civic Plaza.

The new station house features a contemporary, open, and airy design consisting of glass, concrete, and wood materials, as well as a prominent new First Nations art installation suspended from the ceiling – ‘The Sea Captain’ by Marianne Nicolson. A new retail unit has also been added to the station next to the entrance fronting Central Avenue, but has yet to be occupied by a tenant.

New entrance fronting Central Ave Corner of Central Ave & City Parkway Looking west down Central Avenue New entrance on City Parkway New entrance with bike racks and benches on City Parkway New ticket and fare gate concourse Fare gate concourse and art installation

Escalator to second floor concourse

2nd floor concourse Wayfinding signage on second floor concourse

Connection to south station entrance New platform level stairs, escalator and elevator

This latest upgrade to Surrey Central Station is just the beginning of an even larger expansion and re-configuration to come in the future. The lands immediately west of the station, where the current North Surrey Recreation Centre and Bus Loop sit – known as the ‘Centre Block’ are expected to be redeveloped in the coming decade. With that will come the removal of the suburban-style bus loop and re-positioning of bus bays onto streets surrounding the station. A major overhaul of the station is expected at that time to modernize and better integrate it into its evolving urban context.