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New UBCO campus construction causes damage, evacuation of Kelowna building

The new building will feature the city’s deepest underground parkade
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A draft design of UBCO’s vertical downtown Kelowna campus included in their development permit application. (UBCO photo)

Construction on the future UBC Okanagan campus in downtown Kelowna has caused damage and an evacuation to nearby buildings.

“We are aware of some damage that was sustained to the CoLab building adjacent to the UBCO Downtown construction site over the weekend,” said Nathan Skolski, university relations for UBCO.

The construction site is located at the intersection of St. Paul Street and Doyle Avenue. The new building will feature the city’s deepest underground parkade.

“As a result of ground settling, the exterior and interior of the neighbouring CoLab building sustained some damage,” said Skolski.

The building has been placed on a precautionary do not occupy order “out of an abundance of caution,” and an investigation is ongoing into the exact nature of the damage.

The UBCO construction team is working with the City of Kelowna, neighbouring properties and the project’s engineering teams to ensure there is no risk to the public.

Skolski said that ground settling is anticipated when undergoing a project as large as the new UBCO campus and the impact of the project is being closely monitored by experts.

To learn more about the UBCO Downtown project, visit ok.ubc.ca.



Jacqueline Gelineau

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