Architect team selected to design Greater Vernon's new Cultural Centre

Photo: City of Vernon

An architect team has been selected to design Greater Vernon's new Cultural Centre.

The Regional District of North Okanagan has awarded Revery Architecture of Vancouver the contract to create the "vision, facility planning, and indicative design" of the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre project.

The facility will house the Vernon museum and art gallery.

It will be located on the site of the downtown Vernon parking lot on 31st Avenue.

Revery "brings a longstanding history of delivering transformative, award-winning cultural facilities both locally, and across the world. Through years of collaboration with arts groups, the firm has developed a profound and well-rounded understanding of performing arts and cultural building design," the RDNO says in a press release.

The first phase of the $28-million project will include a "review and refresh" of the project vision followed by an update to the "space matrix" and functional programming for the facility’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

Interior and exterior design will be developed in order to bring forward a 'Class C' or preliminary cost estimate "to assist with grant funding applications and greater confidence in the project budget as the project moves toward construction."

The project parameters had previously been scales back due to escalating construction costs.

It was approved via the alternative approval process after anticipated grants did not come through.

Revery has team members in 17 different countries, and "previous project experience shows an ability to create and communicate compelling visions that inspire a sense of ownership and excitement within the community," the RDNO says.

"To have an organization like this submit a proposal for the project confirms that this is an extraordinary project," said RDNO vice-chair Amanda Shatzko.

"We are confident that, working with Revery Architecture, we will create a facility that is truly one of a kind in the region."

Work is scheduled to begin immediately on the estimate, with a schematic design scheduled to be complete by early summer 2023.