The City has just approved a development permit for the construction of the RCMP’s new E-Division headquarters at 140 St and Fraser Hwy, adjacent to Green Timbers and the Surrey Outpatient Hospital. The Green Timbers Accomodation Partnership won the P3 to build the facility in January, a consortium which consists of Kasian Architecture, Bouygues Batiments International, Aplin & Martin Consultants, and Bird Construction. Although renderings are not yet available, details about the facility have been released.
The entire HQ will consist of four buildings – the main, 7 storey, 700 000 sq. ft. Operations and Administration building; the 45 000 sq. ft. Post-Disaster and Mechanical Plant Building; the 74 000 sq. ft. High Bay/Exhibits Building; and the 83 500 sq. ft. Forensic Lab Building. The project includes 1855 surface parking spaces, as well as the completion and dedication of Green Timbers Way, between 140 St and 96 Ave, as a public road.
The main building entrance will include a small plaza commemorating the national police force. As the facility is under heavy security, two landscaped areas on each side of the main entrance will attempt to mask the security barriers. On the west will be a shallow storm water detention pond, while on the south, new trees will be planted to complement the line of mature trees along Green Timbers Way. Security barriers will also feature a elements of public art, including “metal bull rushes” and “fallen concrete logs” and boulders to help blend in with the Green Timbers surroundings.
The building itself will sit on a base of concrete columns, which will be clad in brown brick veneer to mirror tree trunks. The spaces between the columns will be filled with clear and green-coloured glass to reinforce the forest setting. The entry will include a large, extended canopy, whose underside will be clad in wood. The other three buildings are each two storeys and are designed to complement the Operations facility, being clad in smooth and corrugated metals.
The master plan permits a 30% expansion of the facilities. The Forensics building is not included in this initial P3 contract.
