Demolition of UBC Power House this summer

February 27, 2023

Construction starting: June 2023

This Summer, the UBC Power House will undergo demolition to prepare for the development of the new UBC Sauder School of Business expansion. The stunning 11-storey building will be constructed next to the current Sauder School of Business in the Henry Angus Building and is expected to open in 2026.

The demolition work is expected to commence this summer, and once demolition work is completed, the site will be handed over to UBC Properties Trust to develop the new Sauder School of Business expansion. We are still in the project planning phase, and more details will be provided as they become available.

The UBC Power House was built in 1924, serving the UBC Vancouver campus with a safe and reliable water supply for decades. In 2017, The Seismic Resilience Plan identified the pump station within the Power House as a “significant vulnerability to the water supply” because the Power House was found to be at high risk of collapse during a seismic event.” In 2021, the Power House was decommissioned and the new UBC Water Supply Centre is now fully running the campus water distribution serving the campus a more reliable water supply for academic and administrative buildings, and firefighting. Learn more about UBC Water Supply Centre.

What to expect during demolition

  • The current UBC Power House is an old concrete building on campus, and the demolition is anticipated to be disruptive with increased noisy work and intermittent heavy vibrations.
  • A laydown area for contractors to store their materials and equipment will be located adjacent to the Power House, likely in the west parking lot adjacent to the building.
  • There will be abatement work in the building prior to demolition. Abatement is conducted under controlled abatement procedures and undertaken by prequalified abatement contractors and monitored according to WorkSafe BC regulations and UBC Safety & Risk Services.
  • Increased traffic around the UBC Power house, with construction vehicles / dump trucks during the day to remove debris from the site.
  • The anticipated demolition is expected to take 6-12 months. More details will be provided prior to construction.

For questions or concerns, please contact the project team:

 

We understand this project will impact surrounding buildings in the area during the demolition and construction of the new Sauder School of Business Expansion. We are working closely with your building administrators and our UBC partners minimize impact where possible. For questions and concerns, please contact our project team or your Facilities Manager.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding, as we prepare to support the Sauder School of Business in transforming the future of business education in Canada.