The B.C. Liberal government hopes to have something more specific to announce this summer about its promised Wood Innovation and Design Centre, earmarked for the city's downtown.
The centre, meant as a showcase for wood buildings and possibly a home to engineering students, was first promised by the Liberals more than two years ago under then-premier Gordon Campbell.
New Premier Christy Clark endorsed the idea as an element in her successful leadership campaign earlier this year.
"We're making good headway and hope to have some more kind of announceables coming up this summer," said Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell, Prince George-Mackenzie MLA.
But exactly what the centre will look like, or what will be its exact purpose, have not be fully fleshed out yet.
What is known is the building remains earmarked for downtown.
Bell said he and Solicitor General Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince George-Valemount, continue to believe the centre can grow wood construction of larger buildings, but also help revitalize the downtown.
"I continue to believe the downtown is the place for it to be," said Bell.
There are a long list of elements being considered for the centre.
Bell would like to see a tall wood building, possibly using cross-laminated timbers. The large panels are constructed out of boards laminated in layers of opposite direction used more commonly in Europe.
Also on the list is the possibility of housing an engineering student program and research, as well as room for private tenants, and perhaps housing and shopping, said Bell.
He said he'd like to see a multi-use facility.
Whether the building would be owned by the province, or built privately and leased back to the government, hasn't been worked out.
"That's what complicates it, coming up with the right formula," said Bell.
The proposed Wood Innovation and Design Centre is the No. 1 priority of the Initiatives Prince George, the city's economic development agency.
The agency delivered that message to Clark, the new premier, shortly after she won the leadership.
Prince George mayor Dan Rogers said he is confident the provincial government will deliver on the centre downtown. He said he's made it clear to provincial officials that some connection between the centre and UNBC or CNC is important.
He said city downtown planning work has shown that students and faculty are interested in living downtown. A direct express transit route could be looked at, noted Rogers.
"It would be a great way to close the gap between the university on the hill and the heart of our city which is the downtown," he said.
UNBC's board and senate recently gave approval in principle to create programs in civil and mechanical engineering.
UNBC spokesman Rob Van Andichem said work is underway internally to scope the programs, although there hasn't been a lot of work with the provincial government. However, Van Andichem said it's his impression that the engineering program would not necessarily be a good fit with a downtown wood centre.
He said since the university already has significant lab infrastructure, it wouldn't make sense to replicate that downtown.
