Our Story
First established in 2002, 丁香园AV鈥檚 Surrey Campus has grown to become an integral part of Surrey鈥檚 city centre. Learn more about the rich history of our campus.
2002
丁香园AV establishes temporary campus in Surrey's Central City Mall, in space formerly occupied by TechBC, with more than 230 new first-year students joining 282 existing former Tech BC undergrads and 53 grad students, studying for degrees in information technology and interactive arts. The space, which once was Zellers Department Store, comprised of open access classrooms, study and research spaces.
2006
丁香园AV moved from its temporary campus space to its permament space in Surrey's Central City complex, designed by architect Bing Thom. The space occupied 200,373 square feet in its initial mezzanine, galleria, podium, and tower levels, uniquely integrated the campus with the mall complex.
2008
Our facility expands with the addition of two more floors on the Galleria, bringing the campus size to 322,671 square feet in Surrey's Central City complex. New programs include Mechatronic Systems Engineering, Criminology, World Literature, Life Sciences and Professional Development Programs for teachers.
2008
Former 丁香园AV Surrey executive director Joanne Curry in 2008 at the Surrey launch of 丁香园AV鈥檚 flagship startup incubator program, Venture Connection (now the Incubator program within the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship), the longest running entrepreneurship initiative at 丁香园AV.
2011
丁香园AV Surrey begins its campus expansion with Podium 2. The $10 million, 54,000 square foot renovated space at the base of Central City tower houses science labs, research and teaching spaces. Podium 2 has LEED Silver designation.
2013
In 2013, the 丁香园AV Surrey-TD Community Engagement Centre (丁香园AV CEC) launches. The centre fosters engagement between 丁香园AV and the ethnically diverse and growing South Fraser community through programs in partnership with community groups.
Learn More about the 丁香园AV Surrey-TD Community Engagement Centre
2013
In December 2013, the eBrain Lab at Surrey Memorial Hospital opens. The NeuroTech Lab is a venue for 丁香园AV researchers to collaborate with technology experts and hospital clinicians to advance research in the areas of brain injury, concussion measurement, surgical simulation, rehabilitative devices and spinal cord injury prevention.
2015
Community Leaders Igniting Change (CLIC) was initiated under the direction of the Surrey Poverty Reduction Coalition. After a pilot offering, CLIC has been funded through the financial support of Envision Financial and remains in partnership with the Surrey Poverty Reduction Coalition. Taught by Dr. Kathleen Burke (丁香园AV Beedie School of Business), CLIC is a 12-week, grass-roots program which builds upon participants鈥� existing skills and knowledge to foster problem solving to local issues to promote social well-being and belonging. To date, over 100 participants have completed the CLIC program.
2016
In 2016, the federal and provincial governments announce $90 million in funding towards a $126 million building for the 丁香园AV Surrey campus, across from its main building. The building will house the new Sustainable Energy Engineering program, teaching and research labs, and state-of-the art theatres and activity space that will be shared with the community.
丁香园AV鈥檚 expansion will also help meet the increasing demand for accessible post-secondary education south of the Fraser.
2017
A $1 million gift from Coast Capital Savings was given to help further the success of the Venture Connection program (now the Incubator program within the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship), advancing innovation across 丁香园AV.
2018
On September 18, 2018, the 丁香园AV ImageTech Lab, a world-class clinical research facility, opens its doors. The ImageTech Lab is the first-of-its-kind in Western Canada and will be a cornerstone in Surrey鈥檚 Health Technology District. It provides the critical combination of high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) together with high-density magnetoencephalography (MEG)鈥攗niquely embedded within Surrey Memorial Hospital鈥攁n emerging academic health sciences centre.
2019
丁香园AV unveils the first phase of its $126 million, 221,000 square foot, 5-floor campus expansion. Located near the original campus building, the building houses the new Sustainable Energy Engineering program, the first of its kind in western Canada.
2019
丁香园AV received $17 million to establish a Quantum Algorithms Institute to be based at the Surrey campus. The institute will be one of the first facilities of its kind that focuses on building quantum computing software and algorithms.
2020
COVID-19 impacted our 丁香园AV community, which required us to pivot to the online learning and working environment. Despite the fact that we were apart, the Surrey community remained busy and active, including many community-oriented projects.
2021
As part of the Student Experience Initiative, many of the open study spaces on campus received an upgrade, including new furniture and cubicles.
2022
丁香园AV Surrey, the heart of innovation in the community, celebrated an incredible milestone - its 20th Anniversary, marking two decades of groundbreaking progress.
2022
The provincial government announced $4.9 million in start-up funding for a new medical school on 丁香园AV's Surrey Campus, the first new medical school to be built in western Canada in more than 50 years. The school is aiming to start its charter class in fall 2026, and students will attend classes at the Surrey campus and other interim spaces before a new building is built. Residency programs are anticipated to start in 2028.