Civic Hub & Municipal Offices

The District’s municipal offices are situated in a building that was constructed in 1972. This building was architecturally assessed first in 2011/12 and then again during the Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan (REFMP) process and determined, nearing fifty years, it is at end-of-life.

Ongoing repair and upkeep require exponentially increasing annual operating, maintenance and capital costs. Additionally, some areas require seismic and BC Building Code works to bring into compliance. A full demolition and rebuild of the building is required to make it operational for the next forty years.

The size of the existing Municipal Offices building at 21,000 square feet does not meet current needs for office space. During the REFMP process and space planning, it was projected that the District’s future office space needs would range from 25,000 to 40,000 square feet over the next 20+ years. Earlier preliminary space planning completed in 2016 projected space needs will reach 33,000 square feet by as early as 2026.

The onset of COVID-19 and the new realities (e.g., the ability for remote work / shared offices) are changing workplace requirements. As a result, the future municipal offices are projected at approximately 30,000 square feet. and incorporate a larger Council Chambers based on a hybrid design, allowing wider community uses (for example performances, events and meetings).

Based on the funding shortfalls of $150M (2020) identified in the REFS/REFMP, leasing Municipal Offices may be the trade-off required to move forward with all of the other facility projects. Of the remaining facilities to be built, the Municipal Offices are the only option to be leased.

Leasing does not require the District to sell land assets to raise funds. Additionally, the lease payment is considered an annual operating expense, which would not reduce the District’s ability to borrow funds for future investments, such as for the Brennan Park Recreation Centre upgrades. Read more about important considerations for leasing versus owning the Municipal Offices facility.

Learn more about the various options for funding the Municipal Offices in the Lease Versus Build Backgrounder.

Read the background on how the District has arrived at the current Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan.

In April 2018, the District of Squamish completed the Real Estate and Facilities Strategy to ensure it is providing the necessary services to the community in a fiscally responsible manner over the next 25 years.

In 2019, the District completed the Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan to establish a prioritized list of future facility and land investments (“What”), a recommended timeline for making those investments (“When”) and potential funding strategies to support those investments (“How”). Read the Real Estate and Facilities Strategy Executive Summary.

Completed in January 2020, the Squamish Public Library Future Needs Assessment explored the current and future state of the public library.

Completed in 2020, the Arts, Culture & Heritage Strategy provides recommendations on how to nurture a vibrant and resilient arts and culture sector in Squamish.

The Economic Development Strategy road map and action plan provides the District and its stakeholders with tactics, timelines, and ideas for emerging sector development, focused in two thematic areas: the Green Economy and Outdoor Recreation.

The Five Year Financial Plan sets out objectives and policies of the District and includes funding sources, distribution of taxes, and proposed expenditures, among other things.