Downtown Vancouver Updates

[squeezied]

Office & Retail Development, 32-Storey (320 GRANVILLE ST)

City Contact: Karen Hoese 604.871.6403 [email protected]
Applicant Contact: Graham McGrava VIA Architecture 604.683.1024 [email protected]
Project: 5939 Proposed

http://cfapp.vancouver.ca/planning_wa/index.cfm

The existing site is the parking garage at the southeast corner of Granville and Cordova (across from Waterfront station). I don't recall any potential office tower plans for this site, so it comes as a surprise to me. I guess we really are in the office boom now.

[officedweller]

Nice find, thanks!

It was discussed on page 414 of this thread as possibly a project by Morguard linked to 333 Seymour.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=138107&page=414


That's one floor taller than the Credit Suisse Tower and it could end up being as tall as Granville Square,
which is 30 storeys, but it's unclear as it's elevated on a deck, etc..
There's that view cone that runs up Granville from the crest of the bridge, which I think may be the only one that applies to the site.
Granville Square seems to mark the height of the view cone just to the left of the street end in the photo.
I think the dark mass on the right is the Chateau Granville with the Vancouver Block clock poking above it.


http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/views/viewcones/122.htm


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I think E1 also applies, but its max height also seems to be the same as Granville Square.
I don't think view shadows will apply (to add height) since Harbour Centre is to the east of the site (and the other view cone applies).


http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/views/viewcones/e1.htm

[Canadian Mind]

They wouldn't let it protrude, a bit, considering it is under the highest peak within that viewcone?

Let it protrude in exchange for amenity space. it's right near the water, and it would be kind of a visual tragedy for the height of our buildings to step down from the waterfront, instead of step up.

[squeezied]

Ah I see. I find it unlikely for 333 Seymour to be demolished for a new tower seeing how the existing tower is relatively new and functional. So my guess is Morguard must be referring to the adjacent parkade.

[g-money]

We've known about this upcoming project since October. Glad to see they've added two floors.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=146079&page=19

[yogiderek]

Originally Posted by squeezied

http://cfapp.vancouver.ca/planning_wa/index.cfm

The existing site is the parking garage at the southeast corner of Granville and Cordova (across from Waterfront station). I don't recall any potential office tower plans for this site, so it comes as a surprise to me. I guess we really are in the office boom now.

Odd that they did an article in the Vancouver sun just recently on how that corner was once a vital retail corner before they put up that hideous parkade. I think this is one development which will hopefully bring some great vitality back to that corner. Hopefully if they remove the granville plaza to extend the street, we will have an amazing new corner in that part of the city.

[Canadian Mind]

Originally Posted by g-money

We've known about this upcoming project since October. Glad to see they've added two floors.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=146079&page=19

Nifty. I completely forgot about the waterfront redevelopment.

This is going to be kinda cool having 4-5 office towers going up at the same time. When was the last real good office boom? Late 70s to early 80s?

[red-paladin]

Redevelopment of that parkade will be a great improvement of the pedestrian environment at that intersection.
I only make one prediction about the architecure: dleung won't like it.

It's impressive that they are trying for a 32 storey building when the city's report anticipates a 26 storey one on that lot, at least according to page 35 of the planning study.

http://vancouver.ca:8765/cs.html?url=htt...rl%3A/ctyclerk/cclerk/&col=all&n=1&la=en

I wonder if they would add another elevator entrance to the Canada Line station there?
In the early mornings when 'The Station' building is closed, people need to use the south entrance to the Canada Line platforms.
I take the skytrain home on Sunday mornings at 7:20am and I sometimes see people waiting outside that don't know the Canada Line is open early and there is another entrance, or that's where the taxi dropped them off and they don't want to drag their luggage two blocks uphill, etc. If there was even just an elevator on the west side of the building that took people down to the linking tunnel, it would be a fantastic amenity for the city. Full hours access to the north entrance of the platforms would be a boost to the station, just like how The Hudson was one of the best things to ever happen to Granville station.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Redevelopment of that parkade will be a great improvement of the pedestrian environment at that intersection.

Only if they build a proper urban podium, i.e., a flush street wall (along both Granville and Cordova), featuring continuous retail with stately, double-high ceilings. Basically, the opposite of the building next to it on the southwest corner of Cordova and Seymour (which has high ceilings but lots of arcades, setbacks, stairs, plazas, etc.) and Harbour Centre (which has flush street walls but blank walls and some spotty retail with dumpy-looking, single-high ceilings).

[phesto]

^For an office tower it is a very small site, only 15,600 sq ft. It's difficult to imagine there would be much room for any kind of setbacks, plazas, etc.

Been a while since we've seen anything from VIA architects...don't know whether that's a good thing or bad thing? .

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by phesto

^For an office tower it is a very small site, only 15,600 sq ft. It's difficult to imagine there would be much room for any kind of setbacks, plazas, etc.

What I really mean is an arcade, which squanders valuable, street-side retail space and hides what remains in a dark, recessed alcove, far away from the sidewalk and invisible to pedestrians down the street.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Only if they build a proper urban podium, i.e., a flush street wall (along both Granville and Cordova), featuring continuous retail with stately, double-high ceilings. Basically, the opposite of the building next to it on the southwest corner of Cordova and Seymour (which has high ceilings but lots of arcades, setbacks, stairs, plazas, etc.) and Harbour Centre (which has flush street walls but blank walls and some spotty retail with dumpy-looking, single-high ceilings).

Oh I agree, I have the same thing in mind, except with an elevator on the outside wall somewhere that goes down to the station. I think the place next door looks too much like a 1980s 'futuristic' tower, but then again, that's exactly what it is so I probably shouldn't complain.

[Canadian Mind]

1980s futuristic is so entertaining.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Hoarding has come off the base of the Victoria Block at Homer & Pender. I didn't realize there was even work being done here.
I thought it was just boarded up indefinitely.



from my flickr

And I see it has already been tagged.

Why can't some people in our society just appreciate good things?

[Metro-One]

Because many people have nothing better to do than be destructive and mark their territory as if they were a dog pissing on a fire hydrant.

[jlousa]

I've always loved the Victoria block building. If I had the money it's a project I'd like to take on for love, I'd add a thick midrise tower (~12 storey) at the SE corner of it, while completely preserving the facades along both sides and turn the existing roof into a large amenity space.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by yogiderek

Odd that they did an article in the Vancouver sun just recently on how that corner was once a vital retail corner before they put up that hideous parkade. I think this is one development which will hopefully bring some great vitality back to that corner. Hopefully if they remove the granville plaza to extend the street, we will have an amazing new corner in that part of the city.

As part of the redevelopment of the Waterfront Station area, the current parkade entrance to Granville Square and an eastern section of the parkade will be demolished so that Granville St can be extended north of Cordova to link up with an eastwards extension of the Canada Place roadway.

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by jlousa

I've always loved the Victoria block building. If I had the money it's a project I'd like to take on for love, I'd add a thick midrise tower (~12 storey) at the SE corner of it, while completely preserving the facades along both sides and turn the existing roof into a large amenity space.

Ugh, there's enough facadism happening(ed), this one should be left as is...

[s211]

Hi gang. Quick questions, if I may.

Anyone know who owns the lands at the NW corner of Drake and Homer?

http://g.co/maps/yyttr

Curious about how development on those lots might impact the Drake.

Any insights would be great.

[jlousa]

Originally Posted by entheosfog

Ugh, there's enough facadism happening(ed), this one should be left as is...

The SE corner of the lot is a surface parking lot, looking at the dimensions it would be large enough to build a midrise on but obviously it would need to tie in not just to the Victoria block but the other two neighbours as well. I think it would be possible to do so w/o losing the integrity of the existing buildings as is so often the case on some projects.