Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is ready to grow – and it’s set to do just that in the heart of Surrey’s downtown core.
The university, which already has two campuses in Surrey – in Newton and Cloverdale – as well as two others in Richmond and Langley, is planning to expand further into a three-storey site at 3 Civic Plaza in Surrey City Centre.
It is expected to open in 2016.
The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon at nearby Surrey City Hall.
Dr. Alan Davis, president and vice-chancellor of Kwantlen, said the university was first established to provide “relevant” post-secondary education to the South Fraser region, and continues to do so.
“For the past 32 years, we have grown to serve more than a quarter of a million students. But KPU’s vision is to be bigger, bolder and better,” said Davis. “KPU Civic Plaza is just that.”
Kwantlen’s plans for the so-called KPU Civic Plaza include delivering professional studies, upper-level business courses and post-graduate credentials.
3 Civic Plaza is a $150-million, 52-storey project in North Surrey, near 103 Avenue and University Drive, that will include a 144-room hotel run by Marriott International, as well as office space and 349 strata condominium units.
The location is considered prime for the university, with a hotel to accommodate professionals from around the region and SkyTrain and transit access close by.
The new 2,800-square-metre campus will initially accommodate about 1,600 students, expanding on the traditional academic day with community-oriented, short-term and professional development programs offered throughout the calendar year, including weekends and evenings.
It’s also envisioned as a “hub” for community engagement and collaboration between researchers and Surrey’s health and technology sectors on Innovation Boulevard.
Proposed new programs include graduate diplomas and certificates in strategic planning, media and communications, public relations, emerging markets analysis, product development, management sciences, accounting, human resource management, financial analysis, specific business applications and professional standards.
The Kwantlen expansion fits well with the city’s vision for the area, said Mayor Dianne Watts.
“With one-third of Surrey’s population under the age of 19, the new KPU Civic Plaza is an excellent example of how the City of Surrey is reaching out to meet the needs of our future leaders,” she said.
To learn more about the new location, visit kpu.ca/civicplaza