150 W Georgia (Steam Plant + Data Centre) | 10fl | U/C

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by jrdtown

This project is constantly behind the curve, and won't get build. At this time in the cycle, the original office idea or a mixed office/hotel would make much more sense.
There are two other issues that should be addressed here: 1) central steam generation is inefficient due to transport induced losses - the boilers should be replaced with electric boilers located in the actual buildings, and it's absolutely doable, 2) City of Vancouver noise bylaw 6555 is deficient, as it only regulates noise based on dbA weighting and completely ignores low frequency noise (dbC). The current plant is already unreasonable when it comes to low frequencies (walk next to it), and it will not get better with a data center. Low frequencies can propagate on very long distances and cannot be abated. A center of a dense city is not a place for such a facility.

Who cares about the curve when there's guaranteed Federal government money.

It's a legacy network so it seems doubtful all these buildings will want to get out of the steam network. They might replace the steam with a hot water system instead in the future.

RIP if you own a unit in Spectrum across the street

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by jrdtown

2) City of Vancouver noise bylaw 6555 is deficient, as it only regulates noise based on dbA weighting and completely ignores low frequency noise (dbC).

Wow, not fair! I'm a live sound tech and they regulate us with dBC at absurdly low levels… (traffic noise can easily be much louder)

(i) during the daytime, exceeds a rating of 70 dBC on an approved sound meter for a period of three minutes at the point of reception,

(ii) during the nighttime, exceeds a rating of 65 dBC on an approved sound meter for a period of three minutes at the point of reception,

They also don't specify continuous or average level, so it depends on who you get enforcing it.

http://bylaws.vancouver.ca/6555c.PDF

[jrdtown]

well, the issue is that it only applies to playback devices, look just above your excerpts, 3.1.a; doesn't apply to mechanical equipment: "the bass noise or bass sound made by a radio, television, player or other sound playback device, public address system, or any other music or voice amplification". And I checked this with the city multiple times.

This is absolutely dumb, because why would it matter where the noise originates from. Yet, it does to the city.

[PBlonde]

Originally Posted by jrdtown

well, the issue is that it only applies to playback devices, look just above your excerpts, 3.1.a; doesn't apply to mechanical equipment: "the bass noise or bass sound made by a radio, television, player or other sound playback device, public address system, or any other music or voice amplification". And I checked this with the city multiple times.

This is absolutely dumb, because why would it matter where the noise originates from. Yet, it does to the city.

I would guess because otherwise things like industrial plants etc would be in breach with no reasonable ability to quieten their operations. I would've thought the City would therefore look to zoning to ensure sites producing that kind of noise are away from residential areas or where it may be disruptive.

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by PBlonde

I would guess because otherwise things like industrial plants etc would be in breach with no reasonable ability to quieten their operations. I would've thought the City would therefore look to zoning to ensure sites producing that kind of noise are away from residential areas or where it may be disruptive.

Live entertainment can't reasonably break the laws of physics either, yet somehow we are expected to do so by the city…


Once I was mixing an outdoor stage and muted my PA completely to show the bylaw enforcement officer that the band alone was still well above 70dBA no matter what I did

[PBlonde]

Originally Posted by Glow Fun City

Live entertainment can't reasonably break the laws of physics either, yet somehow we are expected to do so by the city…


Once I was mixing an outdoor stage and muted my PA completely to show the bylaw enforcement officer that the band alone was still well above 70dBA no matter what I did

Wouldn't you normally get a permit allowing for noise in excess of bylaws though?

[jollyburger]

Crane is coming down on May 30-31st

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=296981272

[officedweller]

It would have been better if the data centre were taller and oriented to the southern parts of the site to open up the Georgia corner views to BC Place's Northern Lights display.

[libtard]

Why is the federal government getting in on this and subsidizing a Telus project?

[libtard]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Would it not make sense to build this on cheaper land somewhere else? Like an industrial park?

This is hilarious. So you’re suggesting they build a sprawling traditional data centre that consumes vast quantities of local water and belches fumes from generators like those monsters being built in places like Virginia and Texas? We can’t build it downtown because it will ruin our precious skyline

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by libtard

This is hilarious. So you’re suggesting they build a sprawling traditional data centre that consumes vast quantities of local water and belches fumes from generators like those monsters being built in places like Virginia and Texas? We can’t build it downtown because it will ruin our precious skyline

"fumes"????

I was under the impression that the vast quantities of water that these data centers utilize is for the primary purpose of cooling the processing servers, and as in effect what constitute the "emissions" in the form of heated water vapour.

[privatejet]

Originally Posted by officedweller

It would have been better if the data centre were taller and oriented to the southern parts of the site to open up the Georgia corner views to BC Place's Northern Lights display.

Agreed. I understand creativity is difficult in a data centre...but

[libtard]

What if we slap some balconies to the side?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by privatejet

Agreed. I understand creativity is difficult in a data centre...but

It would be nice to preserve a sightline to BC Place down Georgia St.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by libtard

This is hilarious. So you’re suggesting they build a sprawling traditional data centre that consumes vast quantities of local water and belches fumes from generators like those monsters being built in places like Virginia and Texas? We can’t build it downtown because it will ruin our precious skyline

Speaking of....

Massive protest march against Vancouver AI data centres to impact weekend traffic
Daniel Chai
May 22 2026, 1:09 pm

A huge demonstration against the proposed cluster of AI data centres in Vancouver will take place on Saturday, May 23, and traffic may be impacted throughout downtown.

A group behind the Instagram page @no.ai.vancouver was formed shortly after news broke that Telus was moving ahead with plans to build a major sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure network in British Columbia.

This includes new AI data centres at two Westbank properties in Vancouver that could become fully operational before the end of this decade....

....The group has also shared a link to a petition calling for a stop to the Vancouver AI Data Centre, which has garnered over 1,400 signatures as of press time.

Daily Hive reached out to the City for comment on the protest, with a representative responding, “The City of Vancouver recognizes and upholds the right to free speech and peaceful protest.”...


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-ai-data-centre-protest-march

[kikin]

Why is the federal government getting in on this and subsidizing a Telus project?


Telus is a traditional part of the oligopoly so this shouldn't be a big surprise

[whatnext]

Here we go again…

B.C. lawsuit seeks $450K in construction and equipment payments
Dispute involves Vancouver steam plant project and alleged Westbank subsidiary, public record suggests
Jami Makan
about 4 hours ago

A recent lawsuit seeks nearly half a million dollars for unpaid invoices that apparently relate to the construction of a steam plant providing thermal energy to buildings in downtown Vancouver.

In a May 6 action in the B.C. Supreme Court, plaintiffs Peak Construction Services Ltd. and Peak Equipment Ltd. are suing defendants 720 Beatty Limited Partnership, 720 Beatty GP Holdings Inc. and Creative Energy Vancouver Platforms Inc.

The plaintiffs are affiliated B.C. companies who say Creative Energy was the registered owner of the lands at 150 West Georgia St. and that Peak Construction was engaged by the 720 Beatty defendants….

….To seek comment from the 720 Beatty defendants, Business in Vancouver performed an online search and located an April 10, 2025 order of the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) which identified 720 Beatty LP as “a subsidiary of Westbank Holding Ltd.” It also said “Westbank continues to have an indirect equity interest in Creative Energy.” The order did not mention the 720 Beatty "GP" company.

Ariele Peterson, a spokesperson for Westbank, said 720 Beatty is a separate entity. Westbank is not named in the legal action, and Peterson declined to confirm any involvement by Westbank….


https://www.biv.com/news/real-estate/bc-...truction-and-equipment-payments-12327373

[s211]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Speaking of....

[I]Massive protest march against Vancouver AI data centres to impact weekend traffic

Had to laugh my ass off at all the media headline hype: MASSIVE!!!! HUGE!!!!

Honestly ?!?!?!? May I perhaps introduce you to a thing called a dictionary that provides definitions of words?

Is anybody actually buying the BS the media was selling?

[jollyburger]

And they all secretly will use AI but in their little clique pretend to be against it for moral reasons.

[WarrenC12]

Of all the things to be marching in the streets for...