The Exchange | 115.7m | 31fl, 13fl | 400,000sqft. | Completed - Page 16

s211 · #**301** Posted **Apr 3, 2013, 8:56 PM**

I have heard they will pull the trigger with a pretty low pre-lease commitment.

phesto · #**302** Posted **Apr 3, 2013, 10:59 PM**

The sequence of events if this is to move forward will be an announcement of a pre-lease commitment, followed by announcement that the project is a go, followed by notice to the existing tenants to vacate (likely 3 to 6 months), followed by site prep...

Given that MNP tower is now fully spoken for (remaining top floors being kept over until completion), I give this one a small chance of landing a couple of tenants, but it is still a longshot to go by summer 2013.

spm2013 · #**303** Posted **Apr 3, 2013, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

They are retaining the Stock Exchange Building in its entirety, not just the facades.

Sorry, thought he was referring to the MNP Tower.. my mistake!

Hed Kandi · #**304** Posted **Apr 4, 2013, 2:09 AM**

This tower needs to still go through the UDP, correct?

trofirhen · #**305** Posted **Apr 6, 2013, 6:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Built Form

Screen captures (sorry for the poor quality) taken from CTV's broadcast on Feb 21st showing the altered design. The previous design was too disjointed and busy and am thankful for the removal of the slanted 'hat' which now results in a SHORTER tower. This is an improvement but overall a disappointment considering the architect is Harry Gugger. You can just see the corner facing the Jamieson angled and cut back. The displaced square footage has been cantilevered out on the Howe street facade.

OK, this is going to be it so it seems, so let's get used to it.
One question though. Does it have to be black?
Vancouver is a grey-sky town and already has a fair number of black buildings (Pacific Centre 1 and 2, spring to mind).
Is asking for another colour too much or politically incorrect?
Don't like the idea of bronze? Then what about a deep coppery green, or even nickel white like the CIBC at the foot of Burrard.
Enough sombre charcoal glass already, (though most will disagree or shrug, I am sure)

GeeCee · #**306** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 12:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

OK, this is going to be it so it seems, so let's get used to it.
One question though. Does it have to be black?
Vancouver is a grey-sky town and already has a fair number of black buildings (Pacific Centre 1 and 2, spring to mind).
Is asking for another colour too much or politically incorrect?
Don't like the idea of bronze? Then what about a deep coppery green, or even nickel white like the CIBC at the foot of Burrard.
Enough sombre charcoal glass already, (though most will disagree or shrug, I am sure)

I'll take a black tower over seafoam green any day.

trofirhen · #**307** Posted **Apr 7, 2013, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeeCee

I'll take a black tower over seafoam green any day.

Yuck! Seafoam green, agreed. But what about another colour totally? Something to bring out the colour of the original Stock Exchange building. Bronze? Green-copper? Nickel white? Creamy yellow gold? Deep brown grey? ................

smho · #**308** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 4:53 AM**

The developer had a posting in the Vancouver Sun today on B8 (for congratulating the Rotary Club of Vancouver) and included a light coloured rendering of the tower, although the perspective wasn't good (from the corner of Pender/Howe looking straight up.) The posting also mentioned ground breaking this Fall.

There's a similar coloured rendering on their (revamped?) home page which shows overhangs on the west elevation. http://theexchangebuilding.ca

red-paladin · #**309** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 4:59 AM**

The site is indeed updated.
I like these renderings a lot better:

From: http://www.theexchangebuilding.ca/building/

Infrequent Poster · #**310** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 5:10 AM**

Its quite squat.

jlousa · #**311** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 5:10 AM**

I still like it, hopefully the newest renders impress a few more people.

Infrequent Poster · #**312** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 5:16 AM**

It was more of an observation then a judgment.

Prometheus · #**313** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 6:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

I still like it, hopefully the newest renders impress a few more people.

The renders are better, but the building's design is no better. Those inverted terraces bulging out on the Howe Street side look just as incoherent as before and are obviously an inelegant compromise forced on the developer by the city's height restrictions and gratuitous concession to Jameson House residents.

spm2013 · #**314** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 7:07 AM**

The overhangs just look stupid from the side and bottom.

trofirhen · #**315** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 7:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

The renders are better, but the building's design is no better. The inverted, terraced bulge on the Howe Street side looks just as incoherent as before and is obviously an inelegant compromise forced on the developer by the city's height restrictions and gratuitous concession to Jameson House residents.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spm2013

The overhangs just look stupid from the side and bottom.

This is an example of mediocrity to mediocrity. There was a potential to do something dramatic here; to make a bold sleek, statement. Instead, we've got something "ho hum; it's ok." IMO the design rates about a 6 or 7 out of 10. We should have maximized the dramatic potential and had something that ranks higher.
With the original building being incorporated, the potential was there. We, er, uh, ... sort of "blew it."
A disappointment. Not a real disaster, but a disappointment for sure.

officedweller · #**316** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 7:08 PM**

I saw the advertisement too - they must be serious about building this sooner rather than later.

These renders are definitely better - at least it shows that the overhangs are more integrated into the tower (being on 2 sides) than we previously thought. Before it looked more "tacked on" one side.

It's interesting that the west side also has overhangs, rather than setbacks (which would create a stack of shifted blocks)
- but I guess the lease rate on the upper floors favours larger floorplates up top than down below.

Quote:

The new Exchange Building at Howe and Pender in downtown Vancouver is the first Harry Gugger Studio project in North America. Vancouver’s first LEED Platinum office building will rise to 31 storeys, defined by highly distinctive pinstripe mullions, punctuated by green atriums on three levels.

Not sure how the pinstripe mullions will be different from other closely spaced mullions on towers downtown. They do appear to taper at their ends, however.

Metro-One · #**317** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 7:19 PM**

The new renders do make it look better, on this tower I am in the more height boat, but it still works.

The west side looks better than the east side IMO.

I would not be surprised to see this tower get going soon, as I said I use to work in the old Stock Exchange, and the people there were very adamant at getting this tower u/c.

Vancity · #**318** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 7:21 PM**

I think the building looks "ok"

I agree that there was opportunity here to do something better. but, gotta get used to this kind of archetitural design. I'm hoping that our achitects gets better over time. City's still young.

Klazu · #**319** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 7:36 PM**

Even with those great new renderings this is just too weird for my taste. I am happy that this is not going to be taller than 31 floors, so it will just become infill for the area. Shame about the original design.

officedweller · #**320** Posted **Apr 18, 2013, 7:44 PM**

The more I look at it - the more the tower does have a gothic look to it.
The Stock Exchange Building is said to have been in a gothic style, and I think the closely spaced mullions,
the articulation of the facade and the tapering of the mullions suggest a "gothic-ness" to the tower.
Note these narrow mullioned overhanging bay windows:

https://environment7.uwe.ac.uk/resources/constructionsample/Conweb/walls/stone/print.htm