Central Okanagan Public Schools has sold property it owns on Doyle Avenue, next door to UBC Okanagan’s (UBCO) planned 43-storey academic tower.
The property, located at 580 Doyle Ave., is currently home to the McWilliams Centre. It contains staff and teaching resource spaces for the district’s K-12 online education program, eSchool23, and does not contain student spaces or classrooms.
UBC Properties Trust will purchase the property on behalf of UBCO.
“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, school district board of education chairperson.
The sale will help the district fund renovations of its Hollywood Road Education Services.
Construction of the UBCO Downtown tower at 550 Doyle Ave. is expected to begin in early 2023, and the McWilliams Centre site will help serve the needs of the new downtown presence.
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“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,” said Lesley Cormack, principal, and deputy vice-chancellor for UBCO.
READ MORE: Fond farewell for Central Okanagan Board school trustee
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