CF Pacific Centre Developments

[officedweller]

Another update:

DATE: January 25, 2013

ATTENTION: All Office Tenants – Pacific Centre

WHAT: 725 Granville Redevelopment Project – Foundation Work

WHEN: Sunday, January 27 at 9:00 p.m. to April 15, 2013

WHY: In order for Ledcor to complete foundation work in the parkade to facilitate the installation of elevators that will service the future Nordstrom store, Ledcor has been given permission to close a portion of drive aisle on the P2 level of the block 52 parkade located directly in front of the former Sears elevator and staircase.

IMPACT: In order to facilitate this work, fencing and barriers will be put into place to section off the areas being addressed, as well as new traffic pattern changes. Some of these areas are located in the middle of a drive aisle and as a result, there will be a fenced pedestrian corridor for access thru this area, but no vehicles will have access. You may notice an increased number of workers in and around the parkade as this work progresses.

[Built Form]

Meanwhile the interior is gutted.


pic by Built Form

[officedweller]

Thanks!

Which level is that?

[Built Form]

^ Ground level looking west from Granville. To the left you can see the Robson/Howe entrance; doors in black, daylight above. In the centre you can see the old elevators which haven't been relocated yet.

[SFUVancouver]

Wow. Serious credit goes to the interior designers and architects who can look at a space like that and confidently envision the finished product.

[trofirhen]

I certainly hope the two glass atriums (yes, I know, "atria") will open onto the shopping areas as well as the office areas. "Bringing the outside inside" is often a nice effect.

[officedweller]

Thanks.
You really lose perspective with the space empty like that - the high ceilings look short in the pic.
Also surprised that the beams are concrete - I thought it is a steel structure.

BTW - the atria will have gardens - so no no glass ceiling for the Nordstrom store.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks.
You really lose perspective with the space empty like that - the high ceilings look short in the pic.
Also surprised that the beams are concrete - I thought it is a steel structure.

BTW - the atria will have gardens - so no no glass ceiling for the Nordstrom store.

Will any of the shopping areas, either within Nordström or in the mall, face onto the atria, though? I mean, I hope it won't be just for the office part of the building, but for everyone.

[officedweller]

Nope - go back in the thread and review the floorplans.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Will any of the shopping areas, either within Nordström or in the mall, face onto the atria, though? I mean, I hope it won't be just for the office part of the building, but for everyone.

It's just for the office areas.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It's just for the office areas.

Rather a shame from an aesthetic point of view, but totally logical for Nordström not wanting to give up revenue-yielding floor space.

[officedweller]

The floor of the atrium would be either common space belonging to Cadillac Fairview (i.e. if a multi-tenant floor) or perhaps leased private space if there's a single floor tenant. But not Nordstrom, since they are a floor below.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Rather a shame from an aesthetic point of view, but totally logical for Nordström not wanting to give up revenue-yielding floor space.

Nor Cadillac wanting to give up leasable area.

[taal]

Where did Nordstrom decide to setup their Canadian HQ, this building ?

[dreambrother808]

Toronto

[LeftCoaster]

It's unsure as to where at this point but it will likely be Toronto.

They can run their Vancouver operations from Seattle and the rest of the Canadian population is much better served by a Toronto office.

[taal]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It's unsure as to where at this point but it will likely be Toronto.

They can run their Vancouver operations from Seattle and the rest of the Canadian population is much better served by a Toronto office.

Will be interesting to see if they pick the suburbs (like Target ... Mississauga) or a more urban location.

If I had to wager on the suburbs.

[spm2013]

....

[jlousa]

Minutes are up from the DPB meeting, found an interesting comment in the application that I hadn't noticed before.

Note to Applicant: Pursuant to Council policy for the Richmond/Vancouver rapid transit line for station integration and the Development Permit Board report relating to the City Centre Station and Canada Line construction (DE410872) stating that “the long term vision is to have the station entry integrated within an expanded Pacific Centre development”. The exit stair located in the centre of the sidewalk impedes pedestrian movement along the sidewalk and in front of the store entry. The applicant has raised concern about the possibility of achieving this connection due to technical challenges of the building and below grade conflicts. Staff do not have any information that suggests this and therefore request the applicant to provide further information if they feel that a connection cannot be achieved. Consider also setting back the entries to provide more circulation space. Provide details and documentation. Design development should be in consultation with Translink. A Statutory Right-of-Way to secure the exit stair for the station within the
existing building is also required.

The minutes can be found here, I think the conditions will make some people a little happier.

https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/committees/minutes-development-permit-board-20130114.pdf

[officedweller]

I noticed that but wish it was for an alternate entrance (even if there aren't any escalators, like Granville Station's Seymour entrance).

BTW - no panels have been removed yet. There is, however, a big round hole drilled through one of the panels near the starting area.

Here's my previous post on the station entry:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The existing entrance and mall connection was built in existing mall space -
so about as disruptive as that first entrance was (i.e. not very - it's all behind some haording).

The plan shows potential space under the entrance vestibule on the corner that could connect
if they widened the service passage. Stores in that area could become "double sided" (which retailers
don't generally like) or at least install more display windows.

It would be reasonably easy to lock off the mall and police after mall hours
- which is when an entrance facing the entertainment strip would be used.


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Or for even better security and minimal loss of retail space, a vertical stair (no escalator required) from the street above
straight down (like at The Bay on Seymour):


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

But this is what I would do, maybe combined with a vertical stair (no escalator) directly to the street.
Nordstrom could have a "mall presence" ("Nordstom" sign) on the angled wall and visible down the mall corridor
(with a bank of escalators up to the main floor off the mall corridor and an atrium above).
The passage from the station could disgorge passengers directly across from Nordstrom's mall entrance.


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Agreed on the Granville frontage and the missed opportunity for separate CRUs.
I also don't see Nordstrom's image and "gritty" Granville Street being consistent with each other.
I'm sure they'll love late night revellers pissing on their facade.