Perhaps one of the biggest development stories of the past few months was the September announcement that the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education will be built in Vancouver.
Many of the project's details are still coming together, but here's what we know so far:
- Although the building site has not yet been chosen, properties have been considered in Yaletown, Gastown, and Downtown.
- Of the estimated $60 million total project cost, $30 million has already been raised from private donors.
- The building will include an outdoor piazza, rooftop garden, bookstore, library, art gallery, film screening theatre, and performing arts theatre, in addition to performance art studios and meeting rooms.
- The project is scheduled for completion by 2009.
As for the Center's architecture, Victor Chan told the Vancouver Sun that the building should be 'iconic', but not 'flamboyant'. Rather, it will be a 'psychologically comfortable' place where people can easily 'drop in and linger'.
Although an architect has not yet been selected, Openspace Architecture has a series of concept photos available on it's website, here.
For more information on the project, have a look at this article (link to pdf) from the Sun, as well as this media backgrounder from the DLC.
