Trillium Tower construction ‘tops off’ at 24 storeys

KAMLOOPS — It was sparkling apple juice in place of champagne for this work-site cork pop, as the Kelson Group and City Gardens construction teams topped off the newest high rise in Kamloops Thursday afternoon (Oct. 3).

“I always had the vision that we were going to build something on this (property), and the name ‘City Gardens’ was named probably 20, 25 years ago,” Kelson Group Executive Director and Founder Ron Fawcett tells CFJC.

At 24 storeys, what used to be a ‘bird’s eye view’ will be the everyday sight of residents at the Trillium Tower, which is now the tallest building in the city.

“It looks better every time we come up – the view,” adds Fawcett.

It’s the first of several buildings for the Kelson Group’s City Gardens Project. Two apartment towers, townhomes, and condos will take several years to all be constructed, but it’s expected to bring more than 500 living units to the city centre.

“Projected about 530, 540 (units) is the number we’re at at the moment, and there’s 151 apartments in the Trillium Tower,” notes Kelson Group President Jason Fawcett.

With all the trades and subtrades involved, there have been around 150 workers on site for the past two and a half years. That work culminated with a topping off luncheon event Thursday afternoon.

“It’s taken hundreds of people to get to this point, and we’re just so thankful for all of the work they’ve put into it. All the concrete and all of the extra work,” says Fawcett. “We’re also really thankful to the neighbourhood that has been very patient with us. We know we’ve had to disturb some roads and there’s been a lot of traffic and some extra noise with this, but this is a milestone to get us here today.”

52 per cent of the apartments have already sold, and the goal is to have the tower move-in ready by summer of 2025. With construction on the next tower starting in the coming months.