Capitol Residences | 126m | 42fl | Completed
 

Capitol Residences

Peter Wall of Wall Financial Corp. is giving the legendary Capitol 6 theatre site on Granville and Robson streets a new lease on life, respecting this historic property with a majestic 43-storey skyscraper. To become the area's tallest residential address, The Capitol Residences will add a vibrant new dimension to this already energetic neighbourhood.

Wall and longtime marketing friend Bob Rennie, of Rennie Marketing Systems, will soon unveil plans for Capitol Residences, an elliptical tower designed by Howard Buigham Hail and being developed by majority partner Wall Financial along with Rob Macdonald of Macdonald Development Corp.

"Peter Wall has great respect for the history of the site and its significance to the city," says Rennie. The intention with Capitol Residences is to put this property back on the map as a Vancouver landmark. Plus, in a time when there are so few residential development sites in the downtown core, we wanted to take advan*tage of the amazing location."

Most Vancouveritcs associate the site as the home of the aging Capitol 6 theatre, but the property has a far longer history than its life as a six-screen Famous Players multiplex. It was originally the home of the Capitol Theatre, a live theatre and music house with its own orchestra and a renowned Wurlitzer organ, reputed to be the largest of its kind in Canada at the time. The theatre was demolished in the early 1970s and replaced with the Capitol 6 multiplex, which closed its doors only recently after more than 30 years in operation.

Now, with Capitol Residences, Wall Financial is intent on rejuvenating the site to its original grandeur. According to Rennie, the 372 apartments in Capitol Residences will appeal to a wide range of buyers. Those seeking larger homes will likely be attracted to the spacious, well-appointed condominiums on the upper floors of the tower, with features including airconditioning, high-ceilings and expansive views. Rennie stresses that there will also be plenty of apartments in Capitol at affordable prices from the 30th floor down, ranging from 550 to 1,100 square feet and which still offer the penthouse quality and finishings for which all Wall projects have become known.

As a nod to its musical origins, Capitol will feature a music school on the ground level: Peter Wall, a long‑ time supporter of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, has committed to building a total of S20-million in cultural amenities, including a 6,497-square-foot extension of the Orpheum Theatre stage, a 14,514-square-foot rehearsal room and tie 24,005-square*foot music school. The commitment is the result of the largest culwral-amenity density bonus in the city's history.

The theatre, which opened in 1927 as a vaudeville house, was once the largest and most opulent threates on the Pacific Coast. It was bought by the city in 1974 and reopened in 1977 as the permanent home of vthe Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Although an interior restoration was done with a restored concert hall more work was needed.

The developers have agreed to provide a recital hall and extend the back of the house. There will also be a new community music school on site. (See sidebar story for more information from a city perspective.)

And while this development does promise to be a benefit to the entire community those actually living there have the most to gain. Condo owners themselves will enjoy amenities, such a 24-hour concierge, an overheight wall to wall glass lobby, a landscaped terrace, fully-equipped gym, tv lounge with pool table and a reading room, meeting rooms with a kitchenette, and a Eco co-op auto network on site.


Height: 126 metres/414 feet
Floors: 42
Construction end: 2010
- Will include major expansion to the Orpheum Theatre, home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
- Largest amenities trade-off in city history.
- A 35-story residential tower is situated on top of a 7-story podium, including ground floor retail.
- The Capitol 6 Theatre complex was prepared for demolition during the week of October 23, 2006.
- Originally the site of the Capitol Theatre, a live theatre and music house with its own orchestra and a renowned Wurlitzer organ, the largest of its kind in Canada at the time. The theatre was demolished in the early 1970's and replaced with the Capitol 6 multiplex, which was then demolished for this building.
- The tower is elliptical in design and the tallest residential building in its neighbourhood.
- The $20 million in cultural amenities includes a 6,497 square foot extension of the Orpheum Theatre stage, a 14,514 square foot rehearsal room and a 24,005 square foot music school on the ground level.



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Orpheum Theatre right next door
http://www.clubvibes.com/images/listings/logos/1294.JPG
http://www.lestwarog.com/819seymour/images/8.jpg
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Construction - July 2007
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Sept 12th 2007 update on the excavation of the Capitol Residences site
 

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2...sexcavavw2.jpg
(my photo)

How deep are they digging the hole?

Good. That corner needs some love.

They are still blasting the excavation pit for the project. Probably still a ways to excavate due to the number of underground parking levels.

Is this project still on pace to complete in 2008?

2008? There's no way - they haven't finished excavating yet (I still hear the blasting signals), let alone started pouring any concrete.

So what's the updated date? It seems like things just keep cropping up... "under construction" seems to go on forever.

Completetion has always been late 2010 for this project, it's still on track for that.

Somebody edit the top post. :)

Done

Capitol Residences

It looks like they have finally finished excavation.
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6602/p1050636xr1.jpg
(My photo, taken March 1st, 2008)

There is now a Potain crane at the site and the sidewalk passes directly beneath it. This affords pedestrians an unusual view.
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6654/p1050639wc4.jpg
(My photo, taken March 1st, 2008)

I saw Tori Amos at the Orpheum in December. What a beautiful theatre! This tower looks pretty nice, I can't wait to see the finished product!

I took this today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01677.jpg

Small update | Aug 1st
 

Capitol Residences
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/7...12008p1qp7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/pu...merights20.png Taken by SFUVancouver, August 1st, 2008.

nice! thx :)

Capitol seems to be getting closer to grade. Pic by me today.

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/5261/pb140868ri6.jpg

Oh God. I was paranoid it would be an article about this getting canceled.

I didn't want to click :( But nice pic. :)

The rebar is actually well above grade now. The core is on an angle so it looks kinda cool from street level.

haha, i was scared too, today when clicking on Jameson i was thinking, oh good, some update pictures, i hope they are above grade now.

I like that they are using an attached concrete pump it will speed things up for them consinderable.

Yeah, there's a hose that runs into the site under a bump in the sidewalk.

I am now placing all of my hopes on this building, Hotel Georgia, and Fairmont Pacific Rim.

Don't you let me down!

:previous: I feel the exact same, at least the fairmont is far along in its construction.

My top favorite projects!

1 - RC :( (i have 30% hope for this one now.)
2 - the Hotel Georgia - Please make it!
3 - The Jameson :( (i still have high hopes for this one, maybe 70%)
4 - Capitol - you are above grade now, keep it up! (no pun intended)
5- West Pender Place - Any updates??????

And my top projects in the Valley

1 - Metro Tower 3 (just because it is a real office tower)
2 - Sky Towers :( Please come back!!!!!
3 - Plaza 88 - Go, go as fast as you can!
4 - Infinity :(

My goodness they are dropping like flies!

Come on capital, you can make it!

Capitol sold out in a matter of weeks when it first came on... really the only thing that could hurt it is the evil banks. They wouldn't do that to us... would they :hell:

We need this building, and the upgrades to the Orpheum.

Sky Towers sold out too, in record time :( :( :(

Metro-one, metrotown is in the valley? Come on :) too many hot koreans

haha, well technically we are all in the Fraser valley, but yes i meant the metro area. And yes there are a lot of hot koreans around here.

Not sure why anyone thinks there's even a doubt about the Fairmont Pacific Rim. I can assure you that one will complete. It should top out just into the the New Year and complete in the fall/09.

Anything that is mostly structurally complete should be safe and finished eventually at worst. Has anyone started a thread of cancelled projects yet?

Capitol has sent out a letter to all purchasers informing them that...

They are currently pouring the ground floor
Windows will start appearing in the Spring
And completion date is on schedule for late 2011 / Early 2012

Along with saying how strong the company is, and not to worry, they have good financing, and with the coming Olympics, like in 1986 with the Expo, Vancouver will be inviting the World... and they won't want to go home. They speak honestly about how many condos aren't selling, but are now being rented out, which is good for Vancouver as rental units have not been built in the last 10 years and now buyers can make money on their assets with that. Of course they also say with the volatile stock market, Real Estate is still the best investment, and they see things turning around in 2009, and certainly before 2011 / 12.

Oh yes, and both TD & BMO are offering really good mortgages to buyers :P

Uh Oh.

Ron.

What's Uh Oh-ish about that. :cool: :cheers:

well thats good news

All must be well - new crane going up today (Saturday Dec 13th) - pic by me:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6088/pc130918df1.jpg
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great pic! nice view of the dolce site as well.

^
Cool news, this is a surprise to me. I walk by Capitol just about everyday and its seems like its been an empty hole in the ground FOREVER!!

What is it, 8 levels deep? Finally glad to see it getting out of the grond.

Yep, 8 levels of underground parking. Some for Orpheum, some for residents and a secret removable wall for "future development" at the property nextdoor.

Glad to see it moving along! :D

Eight levels wow. Is this the deepest multi-level parkade in Vancouver?

Thanks for the pic officedweller. It'll be nice to have another taller tower to watch rise. I'm interested in seeing just how much of an impact the Capitol will have. It totally dwarfs all the other condos in the area in this rendering:

http://www.lestwarog.com/admin/uploa...mages/2214.jpg

Wow! Is that a winter rendering!? Developers never do that!

Nice tower btw

I just hope the people who move in this tower don't kill the vibe at Granville and Robson ;) I love the tower, but i sure wish it were office.

Looks like that winter render exaggerates a bit on the height compared to the DP model
- it doesn't look twice as tall as Vancouver House in the model, while it does in the render.

Here are the heights of the neighbouring towers:

Preliminary DP application for Capitol says height to top of mech is 413.6ft
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/plannin...833seymour.pdf

Complete DP applications for Dolce Vita heights are:
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/plannin...5%20smithe.pdf

535 Smithe:
Elev. Mach.Room 322.11 ft.
arch. feature 348.25 ft.

565 Smithe:
Elev. Mach. Room 287.74 ft. (i.e. just a bit shorter than the taller Metropolitan Tower, which is about 300ft)
arch. feature 295.15 ft.

The architectural features on Dolce Vita are those helicopter-like blades at the top.

Here's the context model from the Capitol DP application - Model Shop website.
NOTE: These DP Application models show the OLD design for the Capitol tower.

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/fi...024/X024-1.htm

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/fi...024/X024-3.jpg

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/fi...024/X024-8.jpg

Every now and then you'll see/hear unlicensed (I'm guessing) busking involving amplified music that sets up shop at Granville and Robson. I'm sure it's cool for the people that are enjoying the entertainment district but I can't imagine the residents of the Capitol putting up with that.

Edit.

I'm not trying to pick a fight Metro-One, just making comment.

:notacrook: I'll try not to.

Seeing as how it is on Seymour and Robson. Though my unit will be on the 40th floor facing Stanley Park / Canada Place so it should be quieter up there :P

Nice!

Sounds like a sweet suite! :cool:

Noise still travels to the upper floors - it's unimpeded. i.e. at the office we hear a lot from the Art Gallery lawn and steps.

Well, I don't really hear a thing on the 18th floor at L'Hermitage and I'm facing West Georgia, with Robson on the other side. Unless I open the balcony door :)

Some noise is to be expected, anyways. If I didn't want any I'd move out of downtown.