WORKING FROM HOME
Amenities at Surrey’s Centra towers to include shared work spaces.
With entrepreneurs and small business accounting for the lion’s share of new job growth in Canada, it’s not surprising that residential developers are jumping on the bandwagon, providing shared work space as part of the package in new buildings.
Centra, a new 24-storey condo highrise in the Whalley neighbourhood, is offering shared work space for residents of the 167 units that will be built close to the bustling Central Surrey district on the SkyTrain line.
You have the urban energy but still have a suburban feel. That really differentiates Centra from everything else (in the area).
“We expect the demographic is first-time buyers, growing young families, and investors,” says Venus Tong, project manager, developer services, for Rennie, which is marketing the homes.
“And we do have co-work space for both students and entrepreneurs in the tower.”
In its marketing materials, Centra says the building provides “new options for student study sessions and the increasing number of entrepreneurs and telecommuters who work from home either full time or part time. (There are) work stations, meeting rooms and places to simply hang out with other like-minded business people.”
Centra also has the advantage of being in a transitional area between the emerging Surrey downtown core and the established neighbourhoods of suburban Surrey, said Tong.
“You have the quiet that you don’t normally get in a tower as you’re nine minutes away from a SkyTrain station.
“That’s kind of a unique feature that we focus on in our ads, that you have the urban energy but still have a suburban feel. That really differentiates Centra from everything else (in the area),” she said.
To add to that suburban feel, there’s about 9,000 square feet of landscaping on the parcel.
The homes themselves all have high (eight-foot-eight) ceilings, a choice of light and dark colour schemes by Cristina Oberti Interior Design, and climate control provided through Centra’s integration with Surrey’s neighbourhood utility and air-conditioning by Centra.
Studio suites are 436 square feet while one-bedroom homes range between 469 to 552 square feet; two bedroom homes are from 600 to 935 square feet and threebedroom homes range from 941 to 1,108 square feet. Townhomes range from 1,389 to 2,157 square feet while the penthouses are 1,316 and 1,339 square feet.
All homes come with wide-plank laminate wood flooring. The expansive windows are covered with stylish roller shades for clean, modern lighting control.
The contemporary-style kitchens come with Caesarstone countertops, a backsplash and waterfall edges. An under-mount stainless steel sink is complemented by polished chrome Grohe fixtures and embellished sleek cabinetry. Studio and one-bedroom homes are equipped with a 24-inch appliance package while the larger homes come with a full-sized 30inch appliance package.
The integrated dishwasher and refrigerator are manufactured by Blomberg, while the stainless steel four-burner gas cooktop by Fulgor is accompanied by a wall oven, a Faber stainless steel hood fan, and a Panasonic stainless steel microwave with custom trim kit.
The bathrooms feature stainless steel Grohe faucets and shower heads with polished chrome accessory fixtures. Ensuite bathrooms feature floor-to-ceiling porcelain-tiled walls. All homes feature spacious medicine cabinets and shelving for convenient storage.
As well as boasting the shared co-work space, the amenities include a fitness room, a yoga room, a dog washing station, and a small do-it-yourself space for small home improvement projects. Also included are a private theatre for movie nights, a party room with a fully equipped kitchen, and a parcel delivery room. Every home comes with one parking spot and a storage locker. Secured underground parking comes with two electric vehicle charging outlets and 17 conveniently located visitor parking spaces.
There is also secured access and elevator lock-off controls to each floor. Each unit comes standard with 2-5-10 National Home Warranty.