Golder Associates Ltd. to Anchor bcIMC's New Leed® Gold Office Building at Broadway Tech Centre, Vancouver

VICTORIA, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (bcIMC) announced today that Golder Associates Ltd. (Golder) has finalized a lease agreement to anchor its new LEED Gold office building at Broadway Tech Centre, an integrated office and warehouse development in Vancouver.

Construction of the new 196,000 sq. ft. four-storey office building, the eighth building at Broadway Tech Centre at 2920 Virtual Way, is scheduled to commence later this month, with Golder taking occupancy of three full floors, totaling 135,000 sq. ft. of office space, in January 2015. The building will also include 15,000 sq. ft. of service-oriented retail space and a 5,000 sq. ft. daycare facility.

"This eighth building completes the first phase of Broadway Tech Centre, and we now look forward to beginning the next phase of development," said Mary Garden, Vice President, Real Estate, bcIMC. "We are pleased to have established a strong new relationship with Golder, and we welcome this international firm to join other long-term tenants at our world-class sustainable business campus."

Located at the corner of East Broadway and Renfrew Street, immediately adjacent to the Renfrew SkyTrain station, Broadway B-line Transit stop and Central Valley Greenway (bikeway connecting New Westminster to Vancouver), Broadway Tech Centre is easily accessible from downtown Vancouver and the surrounding municipalities of Burnaby, North Vancouver and Coquitlam. With the completion of this latest building, the 1.1 million sq. ft. campus will include 930,000 sq. ft. of office and 150,000 sq. ft. of production/distribution space, along with a daycare facility, service-oriented retail space, on-site café, outdoor sports courts for basketball and volleyball, full-service fitness facility, tenant conference room, significant landscaped areas and gardens and ample secured underground parking.

"Golder is very excited to be relocating its Greater Vancouver main office to Broadway Tech Centre," said Neil McQuitty, Managing Principal (British Columbia), Golder. "Not only will this allow us to consolidate and expand into one building, but the central location, immediate access to public transportation and on-site amenities in this sustainable campus development will be great for our employees."

Broadway Tech Centre has been recognized by the Urban Development Institute (UDI) for excellence in Urban/Office Development and by the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. The project also won the 2002 National Association of Industrial and Office Properties NAIOP) Comprehensive Development Award.

"In launching the final building planned for the first phase of Broadway Tech Centre, Golder will be joining an already stellar list of existing tenants," said Tony Astles, Executive Vice President, Bentall Kennedy, the developer of the project. "Given the tremendous success of the project to date, planning and rezoning for the next phase of Broadway Tech Centre is already well underway."

About bcIMC

bcIMC is an independent investment management corporation that manages a globally diversified investment portfolio of $91.1 billion as at December 31, 2011. Based in Victoria, British Columbia and supported by industry-leading expertise, bcIMC invests in all major asset classes including infrastructure and other strategic investments. bcIMC's clients include public sector pension plans, public trusts, and insurance funds. With real estate holdings valued at $14.4 billion as at December 31, 2011, bcIMC is one of Canada's major property owners and developers. bcIMC's Canadian real estate portfolio includes offices, retail malls, residential and industrial buildings, hotels, and interests in real estate management companies. For more information, please visit www.bcimc.com.

About Golder

Golder is a respected, employee-owned, global company providing consulting, design, and construction services in our specialist areas of earth, environment, and the related areas of energy. From 180 offices worldwide, more than 8,000 employees work with clients to manage their environmental and engineering activities in a technically sound, economically viable, and socially responsible manner. For more information, please visit: www.golder.ca.

About Bentall Kennedy

Bentall Kennedy is one of North America's largest real estate investment advisors and one of its foremost providers of real estate services. Bentall Kennedy offers a comprehensive, integrated menu of asset and portfolio management, property management, leasing and development services. Bentall Kennedy serves the interests of more than 500 clients across 140 million square feet of office, retail, industrial, residential and hotel properties totalling $27 billion throughout North America. Bentall Kennedy has a 100-year track record of delivering superior returns and a reputation for integrity, innovation and creating value. Bentall Kennedy is a leader in responsible property investing. For more information, please visit: www.bentallkennedy.com.

For further information on bcIMC, please contact: 
Gwen-Ann Chittenden, Manager, Corporate Initiatives, bcIMC at 250-387-4650 or [email protected]

For information on leasing opportunities, please contact:
Jeff Rank, Vice President, Project Development Marketing and Leasing, Bentall Kennedy at 604-661-5090 or [email protected]

For information on Broadway Tech Centre, please contact:
Tony Astles, Executive Vice President, Bentall Kennedy at 604-661-5095 or [email protected]

To learn more about Broadway Tech Centre, please visit:
www.broadwaytechcentre.com