Surrey Civic Centre Project revealed!

Civic Surrey has obtained a pre-release copy of the SCDC’s brochure outlining the Surrey Civic Centre Development. The project has been tossed around for years under various names, including Central City II or the new City Hall complex, but it appears as though this may be the final version of the plan.

The full document can be viewed and downloaded at the bottom of the post. Below are the main excerpts from the plan.

UPDATE: The Surrey City Development Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the City, has posted the brochure on its website.

The City of Surrey is continuing to build the Civic Centre Development Project with a $500 million investment to create a vibrant Surrey City Centre. The Civic Centre Development Project will include a new City Hall and Office building, additional space for Simon Fraser University, and a major civic plaza that will become the heart for Surrey’s outdoor events, celebrations and festivities. It will include a Performing Arts Centre with a 1,600 seat flexible theatre and a 250 seat studio theatre; a new Central Library; and, a mixed use building accommodating Hotel/Office facilities. As a part of creating a great, walkable, enjoyable City Centre, it will include a major beautification of King George Highway and significant upgrades to the current Skytrain Station and Bus Transit Exchange.

Sketch illustrates the overall architectural concept of combining City Hall (right), the Office Tower (centre) and Simon Fraser University (left) in one continuous curvilinear form that wraps around and strongly defines the civic plaza. From this form the tower rises above the Central City building making it the most prominent building in the core and a focus for Surrey. The tower form is organized around a central core and expressed with a cloak of spiraling glass.

The civic plaza will be the heart of Surrey where citizens can gather, meet, enjoy entertainment and celebrate special events. Three of the many potential daytime events could include an open air concert, winter ice skating and a summer fountain display with laser lights and music. There could also be mega-screen showings of special Surrey events and sports. When combined with the existing civic plaza in front of the Central City buildings the total public area could accommodate up to 10,000 people. Such a major public gathering could rely on the temporary closure of 102 Avenue.

The section through City Hall, the Office Tower and Simon Fraser University looking north illustrates: extensive retail will animate the civic plaza; the major City Hall departments are located on levels 2-4 which have the required large floor plates; the lower floors of the Office Tower will have smaller City Hall offices with the upper floors being available for City Hall expansion in the long term and potentially for commercial tenants in the shorter term. The heart of City Hall, the Council Chamber, is prominently located on level 2 at the easterly end of the building. There is a public view terrace and garden at the top of the Office Tower.

This site accommodates the Performing Arts Centre, Central Library and the potential for a Hotel/Office Tower. The site plan is predicated on four principles: locating the Performing Arts Centre furthest away from the noise source of the Skytrain; organizing the major pedestrian access to the Performing Arts Centre and Central Library on axis to the Skytrain Station: locating an entrance plaza that faces south and opens up to City Parkway; strongly defining the edge of City Parkway with built form and locating uses and activities that provide animation and visual interest. All buildings back onto an east-west lane which will provide good service access.

The sketch illustrates the overall architectural concept of combining the Performing Arts Centre and Central Library under one powerful curved floating roof form. The two civic buildings are encapsulated in distinct, transparent and unique curvilinear forms under the roof. The Hotel/Office Tower rises in the background.

The sectional perspective illustrates that the Central Library design concept is organized on one continuous gentle ramp to the top of the building and is wrapped around a central ground level public garden that can be viewed from all interior spaces. The Performing Arts Centre design concept is organized so that the 1,600 seat theatre and 250 seat studio theatre are supported by a common elegant and spacious lobby area and wrapped in a double glazed façade which acoustically protects the interior.

Sketch of King George Highway beautification showing expanded pedestrian sidewalks with a double row of trees and treed median, with potential development lining the streets. A new street beautification plan is proposed to enhance the image of Surrey City Centre and change the perception that King George Highway is not just a truck route. King George Highway should become a ‘boulevard’ with expanded sidewalks, more street trees, new street furniture and improved pedestrian crossings.

Plan illustrating the Skytrain Station with an extended platform to the north, and the Bus Transit Exchange on the east side of City Parkway. The Bus Transit Exchange block has expanded sidewalks for bus travelers and potential for new office development. When the Skytrain Station undergoes an expansion of the platform, the opportunity could arise for a complete redesign of the station.

Future street looking east along the Bus Transit Exchange.

City of Surrey Civic Centre Development Project