A Creston company has been awarded the contract to build the Castlegar Confluence building, a groundbreaking ceremony for the project was told today.
Rendek and Associates had the low bid among seven firms interested in the job.
“Today we celebrate the remarkable journey of the confluence of tourism and economic development building that will be one of the first combination passive house certified mass timber public spaces in Canada,” said Chamber of Commerce executive director Tammy Verigin-Burk.
She said the groundbreaking represents the “culmination of 10 years of work” by past and present chamber boards.
“It’s been a massive effort to get the building this far,” said Lukas Armstrong of Cover Architecture. “It’s probably one of the most important projects we’ve ever worked on.”
The building, to be constructed the site of the former Chamber of Commerce building, is expected to be complete next year.
The $5 million, 7,000-square foot building will be home to the new West Kootenay Gateway Visitor Centre as well as offices for the chamber, Destination Castlegar, and a satellite branch of Community Futures.
It will also include co-working spaces, a large meeting space, and boardroom accessible to the public.
The chamber recently secured $2 million in grants from the provincial government for the project.
