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55-storey Surrey education centre to become region’s second-tallest building

The 626-foot GEC Education Mega Center will be second in height only to downtown Vancouver's Shangri-La hotel
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Rendering of GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey. | Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / WestStone Group

A roller rink in Surrey is closing its doors to make way for what will become Metro Vancouver’s second-tallest building. 

Central City Arena at 10240 City Parkway in Surrey’s Whalley area will hold it’s final public roller skate on Saturday, June 23. The property will be demolished for construction of GEC Education Mega Centre – a 55-storey international student campus proposed by CIBT Education Group and WestStone Group, and designed by Chris Dikeakos Architects. 

The $230 million building will total 550,000 square feet of floor area. At 626 feet, GEC will be second in height to the 659-foot Shangri-La Vancouver Hotel, towering over the 619-foot Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver upon completetion.

Plans for the centre include: ground-level retail space; academic space to be leased by educational institutions; 192 short-stay student hotel suites to accommodate visiting students up to 20 weeks; 264 long-term, fully-furnished apartments with four bedrooms each; and amenity space to be accessed by residents, including a fitness room, lounges and library. 

The project was first proposed in 2016 and is pending final approval.  

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Rendering of GEC Education Mega Centre in Surrey and future surrounding redevelopments in the Whalley area. | Chris Dikeakos Architects / CIBT Education Group / WestStone Group