One Wall Centre | 149.8m | 48fl | Completed

[PeterAKer]

Something tells me Peter Wall is going to redo the entire building one glass glaze colour.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by PeterAKer

Something tells me Peter Wall is going to redo the entire building one glass glaze colour.

I sincerely hope so. I'm curious to see what the new glass looks down in the lower part of the tower which is darker and has a lot more to reflect. I wonder if the new glass is just as reflective as the old.

It would also solve the non-uniform look to the tower once and for all!

I wonder how much it would cost to reclad the bottom section and if there would be any long-term savings in doing so. The tower is over a decade old, I wonder how much efficient the new glass is compared to the old and what the difference in service life between the two is. Maybe a case can be made that changing the glass now is a better deal than doing it in 20 years.

[rsxstock]

Originally Posted by Klazu

It has accomplished the main goal of keeping residential suites cooler and providing better privacy, there is no question about that. But the uniform looks goal is not accomplished on cloudy days, which is a shame.

One would think they have been looking at a piece of old glass and new glass next to each other in all possible lighting conditions, so this can't be a surprise to those making the decision. Shame that it fails to deliver on cloudy days, although it looks lovely in those few sunny days we get.

I need to take more comparison photos in different weather, but yeah, it is somewhat dissapointing for the gorgeous building itself. Damn you, City of Vancouver board of 2000!

oh I thought the main intent was aesthetics.

[East Van]

For 8 months of the year it's going to terrible. Looks pretty — next to its office tower homies with that perfect dark blue glass. They should of just gone with seafoam green if it was going to be a half assed match job.

[subdude]

Hey Mr. Wall: One colour please!

-The people of Vancouver

[osirisboy]

I don't understand how they couldn't match the glass. I lived in an older building with tinted glass and every year the strata was constantly replacing windows and were able to match it perfectly

[LeftCoaster]

Hmm certainly disappointing it is so glaring in low light scenarios but much better than it was before that's for sure.

Will be interesting to see if Wall's ego will cause him to change the whole thing. It is called the Wall Centre after all.

[queetz@home]

Can someone please explain again why Emporis considered this building as the "best skyscraper" when it was built?

Seems like a disaster the first time when it was a two toned piece of —, and now that they had a chance to fix it, and spent millions of dollars worth of levies from its existing unit owners, they botch it yet again and turned it to another two toned piece of —...with the worse transitional boundary...

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I don't understand how they couldn't match the glass. I lived in an older building with tinted glass and every year the strata was constantly replacing windows and were able to match it perfectly

The original glass company went out of business.

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by Jebby

The original glass company went out of business.

I guess the tint for the glass on One Wall Centre's lower floors is so unique, so proprietory, it can no longer be replicated by any glass or window manufacturing company in the entire planet, eh?

[jlousa]

I find that odd too, it's not unusual for towers to switch glass companies to replace panels on a case by case basis depending on who offers the strata the best pricing and you usually don't see such a clash as we do here.

[SFUVancouver]

My hunch is "the glass could not be matched" is really "the glass could not be matched on budget".

[officedweller]

Maybe the extra residential floor's glass was removed to provide replacement panels for the hotel - in the event any are needed.

[osirisboy]

Given the age of the building I am almost certain that windows have been replaced over the years so therefore they have been able to have the tint replicated. Over the years seals break and you get a build up of condensation. A window company comes in and often replace a window from inside within 20 mins. As I mentioned earlier my strata was always replacing failed or cracked windows with various companies and always matched the tint

[trofirhen]

I think it's true that having uniformity of colour would make the tall tower look better, and would also lend more cohesion to the entire project, sort of "pulling it all together."
Alas, such does not seem to be the case. However, may I suggest that before becoming too perfectionistic about it, that it is still a great complex of buildings for the city, and if the colours aren't tish-tosh perfect .... get used to it. Over time, I don't think this will be be a major detraction (like blue and emerald, blue and orange, blue and reflective black, or something equally jarring ...)

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Klazu

On top of that there are few older windows at the hotel floors that have broken and been replaced at some point. Unfortunately they are noticable when looking closely at the lower floors. As far as I know, there is no plan to replace these.

Windows have been replaced in the past, but I don't know if they have been having extra pieces to use or whether these are new piece of glass where they have been matching the tinting and color perfectly. Either way, too bad these replacement pieces are not always very well finished. You barely notice them in the big picture, but looking more closely you will.

I see if I have the chance to ask around why the colors ended up being so far apart and the original color could not be matched. Also, more photos to follow.

[Calgarian]

Is that the finished glass?

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Is that the finished glass?

Sadly, yes...

[Calgarian]

I think it looks easily as bad as it did before, very disappointing. I hope they decide to reclad the rest of the tower. If they left is separated then the effect would have been less, but that one section below that trim ruins it completely. How does it look on a sunny day where there is less reflection from the clouds?

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

How does it look on a sunny day where there is less reflection from the clouds?

We will know in April, when the Sun next times shows up in Vancouver.