Ceremony in Hyack Square marks start of civic centre construction

New Westminster, BC – City officials, project partners and stakeholders were on hand today in Hyack Square at a ceremony to mark the start of construction of New Westminster’s new multi-use civic facility. The $35 million project located in the City’s historic downtown is being funded through a Development Compensation Agreement (DAC) between the City, the Province of British Columbia, BC Lottery Corporation and Gateway Casinos.

“This new facility will spur economic development in New Westminster’s downtown while providing a range of amenities to local citizens and visitors alike,” said Honourable Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. “Our government is pleased to play a part in the development of this great project for the Royal City.”

Scheduled for completion by December 2013, the new civic facility will be four storeys in height and feature 84,000 square feet of interior space. When complete, the building will house conference and meeting facilities, a flexible 350-seat non-proscenium theatre, multi-purpose rooms and art studios, a civic art gallery and gift shop, the City’s museum and archives, the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and a restaurant.

To maximize the use of DAC funds and leverage the project for increased economic, environmental and social community benefits the City has partnered with Uptown Property Group, a private developer that will construct an office tower connected to the new facility that will bring LEED Gold, Class A office space to the downtown, generating 400-500 jobs in the area and realizing project economies of scale on infrastructure, site costs and common facilities in the process.

“We’re very proud of this project and the role it will play in the revitalization of our historic downtown business district,” said Mayor Wayne Wright. “It’s projects and partnerships like this that provide the new amenities our citizens deserve while generating the economic development we need for the future.”

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Contact: Blair Fryer, Communications Manager
             604-527-4688 or bfryer@newwestcity.ca