Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Prometheus]

The city finally rectifying one of its stupid wrongs:

One Wall Centre to get darker windows in residential suites to save energy


By Brian Morton, Vancouver Sun January 21, 2013


Owners of residential units in the 48-storey Wall Centre One at Burrard and Nelson will be allowed to install darker windows, a subject that caused a controversy over a decade ago.

“The strata owners wanted to completely replace the glass on the residential units because of premature failing of seals on the glass,” said Vancouver’s assistant planning director, Kent Munro, Monday of the city’s recent decision to allow the change.

He said the new glass won’t stand out as much from the darker-tinged windows in the hotel portion of the complex on lower floors.

“I believe (residential windows) will still look different, but not as different as before.”

The city’s decision to allow the darker-tinged windows is the latest chapter in a lengthy dispute involving the colour of windows in the Wall Centre.

In May 2000, city council reached a compromise with developer Peter Wall that ensured completion of the $110-million downtown hotel-residential complex that at the time became Vancouver’s tallest building. As part of the agreement, both sides dropped lawsuits concerning the controversial dark glass used at One Wall Centre.

Under the settlement, Wall was allowed to install dark-coloured glass up to the 31st floor, the main hotel component of the project with about 350 rooms, but from the 32nd to 48th floors, which contained 74 luxury condominium units, the developer was required to install glass of a lighter colour.

However, Munro said Monday that the strata council approached the city in October seeking an amendment to the original development permit that would allow them to replace the lighter windows with more reflective, darker units.

He said the situation had become “unbearable for residents” because of the transparent glass in the upper floors and said they needed something to help cool the units naturally. “It gets too hot.”

He said the new windows, which are expected to be installed this spring in up to 20 floors, will result in a 40-per-cent drop in energy costs for the occupants, whose air conditioning bills “were costing them a fortune.

“Our primary consideration was energy efficiency and the sustainability of the building,” added Munro.

Coun. Raymond Louie said the Wall Centre was a landmark building for many years in the downtown core because of its height. It has since been surpassed by other developments, including the Shangri-La and Shaw towers.


Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Wall+Centre+...+energy/7851648/story.html#ixzz2IflkTSBI

[Jebby]

Good news. I wonder how dark they'll go.

[ckkelley]

Terrific news. Hopefully they'll get as close to the color of the lower tower as possible.

[officedweller]

Wow - awesome news.

[cornholio]

It could be bad too. I mean if its noticeably different but looks like its trying to look the same it will look like a shit job. At-least right now its clear its supposed to be different so it can pass off as interesting/artistic in some weird little way. Well that's my "play the devils advocate" opinion.

[dreambrother808]

Right now it looks like incomprehensibly bad design. Anything darker is an improvement.

[Architype]

It will definitely be cool to see it as it was supposed to be, or at least closer to it.

[officedweller]

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/2000/2025/2025-1.htm

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/4000/4020/4020-1.htm

[East Van]

Finally. I look forward to this one standing out more than it does now.

[Built Form]

Coun. Raymond Louie said the Wall Centre was a landmark building for many years in the downtown core because of its height. It has since been surpassed by other developments, including the Shangri-La and Shaw towers.

As for the colour of the windows, Louie said that is not important to him.

“In this instance, the windows need a replacement and the colour is less of an issue for me,” he said. “Its upgrade made sense.”

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/W...+energy/7851648/story.html#ixzz2IhN2uWCQ


Here's a quote from Raymond Louie from the same Sun article showing his unwavering support that city hall can do no wrong. The colour of the windows is of primary importance or else there would not have been a lawsuit and outrage over the switch from light to dark glazing. Unless the tower is of uniform colour we'll still end up with an oddity that will detract forever from it's beautiful design. That Louie should dismiss the colour due to One Wall's fall from grace as the tallest in Vancouver is shortsighted. It may not be
"important" to him but to those of us with an appreciation of architecture, symmetry and the urban realm it is.

[Built Form]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

site is up for BOSA's sale of the condo units that were formerly rental at PACIFIC POINT in Yaletown

http://www.pacificpointcondos.com/

The building was vacated 6 months ago and refurbishment has been ongoing since. The presentation centre will be onsite.




pics by Built Form

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

One Wall Centre to get darker windows in residential suites to save energy

As a resident of One Wall Center, you can't imagine how happy I am over this news! I am lucky to be living on the north side of the building, as on the south side summer weather with direct all-day sunshine has been almost unbearable to withstand. The darker glass should help a lot with this issue and reduce the need of A/C, which has been vastly underpowered for the south side apartments.

I am also so happy appearance-wise that the darker glass will be installed. The whole building will look so much better and it's also nice for us residents that one can't see inside that easily anymore. At times it has felt like being in a display window, despite living high above the street level...

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by Klazu

As a resident of One Wall Center, you can't imagine how happy I am over this news!

What is your special assessment to do this.

[spm2013]

....

[officedweller]

Yeah, by not caring, Louie is really diverging from the "principled" pissing match that Council of the day had with Wall over the "proper" colour of the glass.

But I do get Built Form's point that people (Councillors) who are not experts in a field should not stick their noses in where it will mess things up.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by Built Form

Coun. Raymond Louie said the Wall Centre was a landmark building for many years in the downtown core because of its height. It has since been surpassed by other developments, including the Shangri-La and Shaw towers.

As for the colour of the windows, Louie said that is not important to him.

“In this instance, the windows need a replacement and the colour is less of an issue for me,” he said. “Its upgrade made sense.”

It is still a landmark building, it's still the tallest in that area. Shaw is the same height, but at a lower elevation, and very far away.

It doesn't have to be the tallest to be a landmark building.

[spm2013]

....

[EastVanMark]

Wow Councillor Louie and the phrase "makes sense" in the same sentence. Don't see that too often. As for nimby king George Puil when is he gonna do everyone a favor and die already (in terms of being involved in local politics). He's just as resilient as a cockroach and just as about as smart when it comes to civic policies.

[TwoFace]

"Strata residents had started a lawsuit against Wall Financial in 2011 over the floor-to-ceiling windows, saying they were leaking air and moisture. The estimated cost of repairing the windows was $7-million, and the council had levied a special assessment to cover it"

I guess at that price they should be able to get any colored glass they want.
74 units into $7M = $94,594 (average)

** tip to owners, if you ever get a settlement from your lawsuit, it will be payable to the unit owner at time of settlement not previous owner. So if you go to sell after you paid your special assessment, make sure to make a note in your sales contract that any settlement monies go to you (get legal advice).

[wrenegade]

Very very happy to see this change. I wish them the best of luck findings something as close as possible to the original colour.