UBCO downtown plans to be revealed at open house

People can learn more about UBC Okanagan’s plans for a downtown campus at a virtual open house on Jan. 19.

The university, working with a local developer, plans to build the campus at 550 Doyle Ave., former home of The Daily Courier and now a winter homeless shelter.

A new public gallery, creative innovation spaces, a public engagement and learning suite and other community-accessible facilities are being considered for the site.

Preliminary design work is underway and construction is expected to start in mid-2022. The UBC building will provide about 80,000 square feet for academic and research uses as well as additional shared-use areas, office, residential and some amenity spaces, the university says.

The virtual open house will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. as a Zoom webinar. Hosted by professor Philip Barker, viceprincipal of research and innovation, the evening will provide an overview of UBC’s vision for the site.

Associate Provost of Strategy professor Michael Burgess, will moderate a discussion panel and question-and-answer session with the deans of several UBCO faculties.

The open house webinar will be followed at 8:10 p.m. by a 45-minute discussion forum hosted by Burgess with breakout sessions. Anyone registering for the open house will also be invited to participate in the optional discussion forum.

To register, visit ok.ubc.ca/downtown