Development will change look of downtown Kelowna

New development is going up in downtown Kelowna to heights never seen before.

Kelowna council has approved two new developments, one which will become the city’s tallest building at 46-storeys.

That’s for a new downtown campus of the University of BC Okanagan at Doyle Avenue and St. Paul Street.

UBCO Downtown will feature a grand atrium on the main floor and eight storeys of academic space, simulated hospital wards to train nursing students, a public art gallery, a public engagement suite and a variety of other learning areas.

The eight-storey academic base will be accompanied by another 36 storeys of residential rental space with more than 500 units designed specifically to meet the needs of UBC Okanagan students, faculty and staff.

Following a three-hour public hearing on Tuesday, Kelowna council members voted 7-1 in favour of constructing the project.

Opponents noted the 46-storey building contravenes Kelowna’s official community plan, which recommends 26 storeys for downtown constructions, and also cited safety concerns if a fire broke out in the tower.

Meantime, a 25-storey tower will be going up on the site of the former RCMP building in downtown Kelowna.

Council approved the development which will be mixed use, by a 6-2 vote.

It will be built next to the Innovation Centre on Doyle and will have 259 units with 10 percent guaranteed to be affordable, along with nearly 2,300 square metres of office space and 1,400 for retail.