Station Square construction hits next phase

Construction on Station Square in Burnaby, B.C. is ramping up for its next phase.

Anthem Properties and Beedie Living announced this month that they will double their Station Square Project workforce as they break ground on two more towers  which will be 48 and 38 storeys tall.

"As we put the roof on the first of five towers, we are pleased to announce that the next phase of Station Square will create 650 direct construction jobs," said Eric Carlson, CEO of Anthem Properties Group.

Beedie vice president of residential development Houtan Rafii said the Station Square project includes a total of five towers, three of which are now under construction. Design on the final two towers is underway.

"It’s fantastic," said Rafii on starting the new projects. "We’ve been working on this master plan for about three years."

The plan also includes a standalone commercial centre to be complete in 2015.

Rafii praised the city of Burnaby for working with developers to help plan the structures.

"Station Square will have 1,800 homes," said Ryan Beedie, president of Beedie Development Group..

"That means we have the potential to create 9,000 full-time jobs."

The project is located next to the Metrotown SkyTrain station. According to Beedie and Anthem, in Burnaby, construction jobs are being fueled by transit-oriented developments like Station Square at Metrotown.

"Transit hubs have become our city’s economic drivers," said Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan.

"Not only is the construction sector booming, the number of new businesses seeking licences in Burnaby this year is up nearly 15 per cent since 2010."

Beedie said that Station Square will bring hundreds of new residents to the neighbourhood and create millions of dollars in economic spin-offs for local businesses for the lifetime of those businesses.

Carlson added, "In June alone, Station Square sold more than 500 condos. That speaks to the cultural awareness of high-density living, demand for transit-oriented developments and the future of construction in B.C."