Surrey, B.C. – Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) will expand its commitment to the region south of the Fraser with a 30,000 square foot (almost 2,800 square metre), three-storey site dedicated to professional development, business and innovation at 3 Civic Plaza in Surrey City Centre.
President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Alan Davis announced today that KPU plans to reinvigorate the educational experience in Surrey with a roster of new programs that meet the needs of industry, business and professionals in Metro Vancouver’s latest downtown core.
“Kwantlen was born from the need to provide relevant post-secondary education to the South Fraser region. 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. KPU Civic Plaza is just that,” said Davis.
Expected to open early 2016, KPU Civic Plaza plans to deliver professional studies, upper-level business courses and post-graduate credentials in downtown Surrey, from a location with excellent transit and SkyTrain access, on a hotel and residential site that can accommodate professionals from throughout the region.
The centre is also envisioned to become a hub for community engagement, collaboration and connection between researchers and Surrey’s health and technology sectors on Innovation Boulevard. From City Centre, KPU will lead the landscape of urban education, championing the entrepreneurial spirit that has led Surrey to become the largest city in Metro Vancouver, and the second largest in the province.
“With one-third of Surrey’s population under the age of 19, the new KPU Civic Plaza is an excellent example in how the City of Surrey is reaching out to meet the needs of our future leaders,” said Mayor Dianne Watts. “Once complete, KPU Civic Plaza will begin by bringing more than 1,600 students each year into our downtown core, which falls in line with the City’s vision for the area. I like to welcome the students and staff of Kwantlen Polytechnic University to the heart Surrey City Centre.”
KPU Civic Plaza will expand on the traditional academic day and year, with community-oriented, short-term and direct professional development programming to be offered throughout the entire calendar year – on weekdays, evenings and weekends. Initially, Surrey’s largest and longest-serving university will accommodate over 1,600 students in a district filled with companies charging the city’s business, economic and social sectors.
"KPU is a perfect fit with 3 Civic Plaza. I can already imagine the students adding to the sense of community. KPU will be at centre ice of the new City Centre,” said Sean Hodgins, President of Century Group, the developer behind Surrey City Centre’s iconic plaza.
Proposed programs include graduate diplomas and certificates in: strategic planning; policy, governance and innovation; media and communications; public relations; emerging markets analysis; product development; management sciences; accounting; human resource management; financial analysis; specific business applications, and; professional standards.
For more information about KPU’s expansion into Surrey City Centre, visit: kpu.ca/civicplaza. Photos will be available on KPU's Flickr page.
3 Civic Plaza
3 Civic Plaza will be a $150-million, 52-storey multi-use building in the heart of Surrey’s Civic Plaza – home to the new City Centre Library and City Hall. It includes a 144-room hotel, 349 condominiums and five floors of offices, three of which are KPU’s. Once complete in November 2016, 3 Civic Plaza will be the tallest building south of the Fraser.
More information on 3 Civic Plaza is available here.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 124 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
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Media contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist, KPU
t: 604.599.2883
c: 604.364.1288
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca
For more KPU news:
@KPUmedia
kpu.ca/newsroom