Address:
The Apex Site property on Douglas Street at Humboldt Street in downtown Victoria, also known as the 'Budget Lot,' is the focus of a redevelopment effort known as TELUS Ocean, an innovation and employment hub for 250 TELUS employees, ground level retail space, and six levels of leasable office space.
The City of Victoria-owned Apex Site property was the subject of an early 2017 bidding process between six proponents. The City of Victoria opted to proceed with a development planning process and a land sale that ultimately saw partners Aryze Developments and TELUS co-operate on the TELUS Ocean concept.
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The only big name tech firms in Victoria are those who acquired businesses here. Stories about firms moving to Victoria have been rumored for 2 decades and always turn out to be hype and/or short lived.
At the end of the day, leasing costs are generally a small portion of the overall costs. A firm with 100 employees may pay $20K a month to lease their space but is probably paying $600K+ a month in employee and overhead costs.
Yeah these stories have been around forever it seems.
I remember when I worked at Seagate in Vancouver and coming back for a visit to Victoria in about 1998-9; at the time SG was a tech darling with about 160,000 employees globally including at one site in Malaysia that had more staff on the shift change than most Canadian towns had population.
I sit down at a bar (I think it was Bart's) with friends and some guy notices my SG golf shirt and asks me about some wild rumor that SG was planning a satellite office here. "??????" says I. "Zero and none" was my response although truthfully had never heard it myself. Needless to say at that time that firm would never consider coming to a small market like this. Not sure about the attitudes of younger tech workers today but if Vancouver staff then even had a sniff of such a thing at the time it would've caused a minor civil war. The company and staff were based in a large cosmopolitan metro region for a reason - because it offered a multitude of things a market like Victoria couldn't.
That said that was all 20+ years ago and $$$ does talk and attitudes do change; if an org could truly save money on office space I'm sure they'd have to look at it but from a staff/cost of living standpoint not sure there is that much advantage or difference anymore in terms of Victoria accommodations/rents etc.
It would ultimately depend on the IT vertical and especially on the client/market: in BC if the client is 'government' then it makes perfect sense to be Victoria, maybe even headquartered here. We are. CGI, Fujitsu, Deloitte and NTT all are (albeit those are all satellite offices) and for the same reason.
Plans for downtown Victoria's $100 million Telus Ocean tower tweaked as approvals process continues
This is going to CoTW on Thursday March 11. Staff are recommending that the application be referred back for a land lift analysis as well as design tweaks to reduce the impact to the Olympic Mountain view cone; alternatively, councillors have the option to move this forwrad to a public hearing.
The report can be read here: https://pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=64996
So are staff serious about tagging Telus for some coin or was the paperwork for them to rubber stamp just missing?
Plans for downtown Victoria's $100 million Telus Ocean tower tweaked as approvals process continues
Capital's most environmentally-forward construction project, ever, is envisioned as "an iconic building for an iconic site."
10-storey TELUS Ocean concept revealed as "alluring lantern" for Douglas at Humboldt
53 meter tall, 155,000 square foot innovation centre proposed as landmark for Victoria's south downtown.
City of Victoria, TELUS & Aryze Developments reveal plans for office tower on Apex Site at Douglas and Humboldt streets
TELUS Ocean will be an innovation hub and employment centre for 250 of the communication giant's employees.
Downtown car rental agencies on the move as secretive 'Apex Site' development plans crystallize
National Car Rental unveils development plans for new rental lot as its Douglas and Humboldt streets site nears redevelopment by TELUS and Jawl Properties.
Telecom giant TELUS, Jawl Properties to partner on upcoming Douglas Street tower
The Canadian communications giant and Victoria's most prolific office space developer have reportedly partnered to erect a tower at Douglas and Humboldt streets.
Design comp for property next to Crystal Gardens draws six entrants; City mum on alleged winner
One of six bids submitted to redevelop the City-owned Apex Site has been revealed, although the alleged winner has not been formally named.
TELUS looks to downtown Victoria for new office complex
Seeking to expand its real-estate and marketing presence in western Canada, TELUS has embarked on a major development strategy that will eventually include Victoria.
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