Kasian Architects was hired six months ago to develop the final design for the new Civic Centre and their initial concept renderings have been leaked. The Civic Centre project is expected to include a new City Hall, office space, an SFU extension, a performing arts centre, and more.
As a side note, the new City Centre library is a separate project, with design underway by Bing Thom Architects. The two firms are ensuring the projects work in conjunction, but they are independent from one another.
Be sure to click on the images below for the full-sized versions. Read on for more pictures and analysis.
This image clearly shows a new design concept, with a linear park system cutting down the middle of the civic centre. Previous concepts have always coupled the new Civic Centre buildings around a new public plaza that would connect with the existing Central City plaza. In this design, a large amount of public space is created, and the new buildings would funnel people into this green commons.
The City Centre library is the light brown building on the bottom right, abutting University Drive. This concept continues to split the large plot of land into a finer street grid, and does not seem to show that either the bus loop or the existing Rec Centre would remain.
It is entirely possible that the first block, located closest to Central City, could consist of the City Hall building on the east and the SFU extension on the west, as previous concepts have proposed. This would leave the second block, which currently houses the bus loop and rec centre, untouched, until such time as development is ready to occur.
This image appears to continue to long term goal of activating City Parkway as a high street. To do so however, as the design shows, street level shops must open up under the SkyTrain guideway. This concept also shows potential integration of new buildings with the SkyTrain, similar to the VanCity building near Main St station. In the distance, two new towers appear to integrate seamlessly with SkyTrain, in the exact spot the current Surrey Central station is. Such a development could provide the funding required for a redesign of that station, a goal proposed as part of the Civic Centre plan.
This concept reveals the idea behind the linear park. The high street of City Parkway and the ceremonial street of University Drive are supposed to funnel pedestrians onto the liner park, which connects three nodes in the Civic Centre – the Cultural sector (Library and Performing Arts Centre), the Commons sector (possible Rec Centre area and additional park), and the Civic sector (City Hall and SFU) to the Central City mall and Holland Park in the south. This concept also demonstrates the new bus couplet – the blue line – which would ring about the Civic Centre in a more urban fashion that the existing suburban bus loop.
Great update on the city centre. I’d really fight to keep the rec centre, it shouldn’t be hard to incorporate into a downtown model, and the loss of those two rinks would be devastating to surrey minor hockey.
I’ve been following this blog for some time now, and really enjoy it, I just was wondering, your ‘about’ section implies that you’re in some way affiliated with the city itself. I assume this is an independent blog?
This is great! That inset photo in the mockup with the SkyTrain gets me thinking that a pedestrian-only block would be really great there. A “pedestrian mall” if you will, like Granville minus the buses and taxis. Love the bus loop redesign.
@Patrick. Thanks for your kind words. I’m not affiliated with the City. It’s entirely independent!
I totally agree about the importance of the Rec Centre. However, I think it’d be great to build new facilities elsewhere – perhaps a new pool attached to the Chuck Bailey Rec Centre, and a large four rinks type facility near Scott Road.
I think it would be great to add new facilities elsewhere, I also think there is a place for public ice in the downtown core of the rapidly building Surrey.
Though admittedly it’s getting a little long in the tooth, maybe a rebuild and reduction in size to one, more substantially setup rink would work provided there were guarantees of rinks built elsewhere.
The civic centre concept map has something new and interesting because it has “zoned” the properties west of East Whalley Ring Road (soon to be University Dr.) as university lands. Have you heard anything about this? Does SFU or the City own this land? I know its a paid parking lot right now. Great website and keep the updates coming – I check all the time!
@Joe. Yes, a portion of that land was purchased by SFU to become a student housing tower. Construction was pushed back to 2011.
Thanks for the kind comments about the blog
Great update on the city centre. I'd really fight to keep the rec centre, it shouldn't be hard to incorporate into a downtown model, and the loss of those two rinks would be devastating to surrey minor hockey.
I've been following this blog for some time now, and really enjoy it, I just was wondering, your 'about' section implies that you're in some way affiliated with the city itself. I assume this is an independent blog?
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That's the great article! I just pass 'n read it, two thumbs up!
That's the great article! I just pass 'n read it, two thumbs up!