Alliance Française of 麻豆传媒映画looks to replace its Cambie Street building (IMAGES)

Alliance Fran莽aise of 麻豆传媒映画looks to replace its Cambie Street building (IMAGES)

Alliance听Fran莽aise of 麻豆传媒映画wants to replace its existing 8,500-square-foot building at 6161 Cambie St. with a new 30,000-square-foot facility. The non-profit ogranization has filed a rezoning application with the City of Vancouver.

Naoibh O'connor Sep 26, 2018 2:30 PM

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1 / 1 An open house about Alliance Française's rezoning application is between 5 and 7 p.m. at Alliance Française, Oct. 23. Photo Dan Toulgoet

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Alliance听Fran莽aise of 麻豆传媒映画wants to replace its existing 8,500-square-foot building at 6161 Cambie St. with a new 30,000-square-foot facility.

The non-profit ogranization has with the City of Vancouver.

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Rendering of the main facade for the proposal new Alliance Francaise building on Cambie Street. — Rendering of the main facade for the proposed new Alliance听Fran莽aise building on Cambie Street.

Alliance听Fran莽aise, which belongs to an international network of 834 centres in 132 countries, has been operating at the Cambie Street location just south of Oakridge Centre since the early 1960s, but it has deep roots in Vancouver.听It鈥檚 been promoting French language and culture in the city since 1904 鈥� Marie-Louise Kern helped found the 麻豆传媒映画chapter.听听

The rezoning proposal is for a three-storey building with leased commercial space at street level, as well as 32 parking and 16 bicycle spaces. The new facility, if rezoning is approved, will feature more classrooms, a performance space, an art gallery, a demonstration kitchen, a cafe and a听 library.

An expanded space is needed in order to accomodate growing demand for its educational and cultural programs over the past 15 years, according to a press release issued by听Alliance Fran莽aise of Vancouver.

The number of certifications granted and the number of memberships have climbed by more than 40 per cent. In 2017,听Alliance听Fran莽aise had more than 4,500 registrations for French classes. That same year, 1,800 people attended more than 60 cultural events. Alliance Fran莽aise also houses the largest French library in B.C. 鈥� a total of 11,000 items 鈥� as well as digital library that's accessible online.

"[Alliance听Fran莽aise of Vancouver] is now operating at full capacity and is working hard to maintain the quality of teaching environment that AF clients have come to expect. AF needs a larger facility to meet both its current needs and its anticipated future demand," executive director Damien Hubert said in the press release.

If the rezoning is approved, construction on the new facility could start around the summer of 2020.听Alliance听Fran莽aise will then relocate for about a year and a half, likely in the Oarkridge area.

McFarland Marceau Architects is the architectural firm for the project.

The application is being considered under the Cambie Corridor Plan.

An open house about the rezoning application takes place between 5 and 7 p.m. at Alliance Fran莽aise, Oct. 23.