Coast Capital Credit Union is moving its head office to Central City next to the King George SkyTrain Station in a yet-to-be built nine-storey tower of unique design.
Coast Capital has signed a contract with PCI Developments Corp. for the construction and leasing of about 70 per cent of the approximately 180,000 square foot building, with a targeted late 2015 completion date.
Coast Capital’s “Help Headquarters”, as the new head office will be called, will join buildings such as the Central City Tower and City Centre Library that have established Surrey as the home for some of the province’s most groundbreaking modern architecture and an attractive location for businesses.
“Coast Capital is excited not only to continue its presence in Surrey, but to further expand our business footprint in the city, with the upcoming construction of our new City Centre head office,” said Tracy Redies, Coast Capital Savings president and CEO. “We went through a meticulous and thoughtful selection process and of all the sites explored, Surrey emerged as the best choice. Surrey was chosen not only because it is the fastest growing city in the province and a top destination for business, but also because of the longstanding relationships we have built here over the years.”
Redies said the fact that 70 per cent of Coast Capital’s staff currently working out of its Guildford head office and Central City administration office live south of the Fraser River was also a key consideration in the city’s selection. Locating the head office near to the King George Skytrain Station, a major transit hub, will also provide excellent commuting options to staff, Redies said.
Dan Turner, executive vice president, PCI Developments Corp., said Coast Capital’s new Surrey head office will be a LEED Gold Certified, cutting-edge architectural concept by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, designed to portray a dynamic and distinct visual and physical representation of Coast Capital’s brand. He said there are plans for three further phases of commercial and residential development on the site.
Redies said Coast Capital deliberately wanted to move away from a conventional head office concept for its new location and chose the name Help Headquarters to align with the credit union’s mission to provide “simple financial help” to customers.
“In many ways, our new location will defy and re-define what a corporate head office looks and feels like, both on the outside and the inside,” Redies said. “To reflect our organization, we went for an innovative and progressive design, while maintaining simplicity. The interior will also be quite different, with no individual offices and more collaborative work space.”
Coast Capital’s new headquarters, which will be shaped by the credit union’s promise to change the way employees feel about work, forever, will be the antithesis of a traditional corporate head office. Intended to be a “cool place and space” for employees, the iconic building will display a state-of-the-art, open-concept design aimed at fostering collaborative work and innovation. It will include a daycare, with preferential enrolment for children of staff; a roof-top lunchroom and deck; a fitness facility and corporate university. As part of its environmental features, Coast Capital’s Help Headquarters will include expanded bike storage and showers for bike commuters as well as plug-in spots for electric cars.
Coast Capital Savings Credit Union is Canada’s second largest credit union with total assets under administration of $13.5 billion, 475,000 members and 50 branches in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia.
