UBCO Properties Trust to purchase downtown property next to future tower

UBC Properties Trust is set to purchase the McWilliams Centre at 580 Doyle Avenue.

Currently, the centre is used for staff and teaching resource spaces for the district's K-12 online education program, eSchool23, and does not contain student spaces or classrooms.

The school district says the property is too small to accommodate the construction of a school, so they have decided to sell the property and use the funds for other district owned buildings.

"This sale allows our district to focus on priorities of sustainability and providing 21st century learning opportunities without interruptions to services or loss of classroom space," said Lee-Ann Tiede, chairperson for the board of education.

"The agreement will allow for this property to continue to support education services in the future with our community partner UBCO."

Funds from the sale of the property will go towards renovations to the existing Hollywood Road Education Services building. The school district will continue to access the downtown building until renovations are finished.

Construction on the UBCO tower, which will be located at 550 Doyle Ave., is expected to begin in early 2023, however, the university has no plans for the immediate use of the property on Doyle Avenue.

“This land acquisition offers UBC the opportunity to remain responsive in the years ahead to the evolving needs of the community regarding academic programming and services in downtown Kelowna,” says Lesley Cormack, principal and deputy vice-chancellor for UBC’s Okanagan campus.

“We are pleased to be able to help Central Okanagan Public Schools pursue its priorities for other locations while maintaining this site’s existing use as a place for education in the heart of the community.”

The UBCO downtown campus was approved this summer and will include a 43-storey tower with academic and residential uses. It will house students in nursing and social work.