Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 551

yogiderek · #**11001** Posted **Jun 19, 2014, 12:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The Sands Hotel on Davie @ Denman has been sold:

http://www.biv.com/article/20140611/BIV0.../davie-street-hotel-sells-for-31-million

gosh they have a lot of useless parking on the back of that property. Here is hoping they can get a redevelopment on the entire property asap

officedweller · #**11002** Posted **Jun 19, 2014, 12:48 AM**

Hopefully any redevelopment would include a hotel - the guests probably help out the local businesses a lot.

hollywoodnorth · #**11003** Posted **Jun 20, 2014, 10:17 AM**

http://renx.ca/triple-a-headache-remedies-for-b-buildings-are-available-says-colliers/

Triple-A headache remedies for B buildings: Colliers

Colliers points to the revamp of Vancouver’s 411 Dunsmuir St. building by owners Omnicron and CRS Group of Cos. as an example of capital injection done right. That property, a former seniors centre that housed offices various non-profit medical groups, was plagued by high turnover. The new owners decided to strip the building back to its original shell and completely renovate it. It included a seismic upgrade to the building, a new HVAC system, new windows and asbestos removal. Also, the
landlords built an addition to the building, which will increase the size of the floor plates.

Colliers noted that while undergoing the renovations, big office tenant, Morneau Shepell, expressed interest in occupying the building. That has led Omicron to junk its plans to occupy the building, instead making way for Morneau Shepell. The improvements also raised the classification from Class C to B.

“This is still in a great area, it is still close to a lot of amenities and transit,” said Scott. He noted that the owners have decided to hold onto the building longer than they initially thought that they would.

spm2013 · #**11004** Posted **Jun 20, 2014, 4:07 PM**

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SpongeG · #**11005** Posted **Jun 20, 2014, 11:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Hopefully any redevelopment would include a hotel - the guests probably help out the local businesses a lot.

english bay area really lacks hotels which is kind of surprising

a very long weekend · #**11006** Posted **Jun 20, 2014, 11:07 PM**

photo?

looks okay on the rendering, filled in that rear parking lane thing too, which is always a bonus.

spm2013 · #**11007** Posted **Jun 20, 2014, 11:13 PM**

....

officedweller · #**11008** Posted **Jun 21, 2014, 1:15 AM**

To me, it looks like the spandrel to come is designed to visually link to the heritage building.
The spandrel bands line up (of course) with the space under the heritage building's windows (i.e. the floors line up).
I suppose the spandrel will just be glass rather than aluminum or anything interesting. (Hmmm, but what colour, light blue?).

spm2013 · #**11009** Posted **Jun 21, 2014, 8:16 PM**

....

Prometheus · #**11010** Posted **Jun 21, 2014, 10:21 PM**

I think what is disappointing about this project is the apparent missed opportunity to add a few additional floors similar to the project on Beatty Street. They completely gutted the place and added seismic reinforcement. So it seemed a good candidate for a much more meaningful expansion. It would have added considerably to the urbanity along that stretch of Dunsmuir, which is lacking somewhat.

logan5 · #**11011** Posted **Jun 21, 2014, 11:12 PM**

This is truly the dark ages for architecture. Luckily it looks like it's a separate building.

officedweller · #**11012** Posted **Jun 23, 2014, 11:38 AM**

Maybe down the road they can do this:

Queen Richmond Centre West - Tornoto

Quote:

Originally Posted by someMidTowner

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthread....-Queen-W-Allied-REIT-17s-amp-Co-)/page27

LeftCoaster · #**11013** Posted **Jun 23, 2014, 8:54 PM**

QRC is a fantastic project, would love to see something like that in Van pop up some day.

NewWester · #**11014** Posted **Jun 23, 2014, 11:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

I think what is disappointing about this project is the apparent missed opportunity to add a few additional floors similar to the project on Beatty Street. They completely gutted the place and added seismic reinforcement. So it seemed a good candidate for a much more meaningful expansion. It would have added considerably to the urbanity along that stretch of Dunsmuir, which is lacking somewhat.

While I like the Beatty Street redevelopments, I'm not sure it's a one size fits all solution. I feel like A FEW glass hat expansions in the city are visually interesting, but done everywhere it would start to look pretty silly. Also, I'm not sure there would be as much demand in this location for a short vertical expansion since this site sits between much taller buildings (or sites of taller expansion). The Beatty street location sits at the crest of a hill overlooking the skytrain track and so has south facing views that should be reasonably preserved. I feel like sometimes your zeal for height stops you from giving projects a fair shake: this fixes up historic stock and makes use of a tiny unused sliver of land and looks okay. It might not be the most exciting show in town, but not everything should be expected to.

officedweller · #**11015** Posted **Jun 23, 2014, 11:41 PM**

I think a vertical expansion (or cantilever over the heritage building) would be feasible at 311 Dunsmuir if they also acquire the empty lots to the north - that would allow for a larger floorplate.

officedweller · #**11016** Posted **Jun 24, 2014, 9:59 PM**

Urban Reef is being installed on Robson - looks like they had to scale back the size.
Instead of 3 large pieces, there are more smaller ones.

I don't see any pieces tall as a person (eating ledge) or wide enough to sprawl width-wise.
I think it needs an astroturf carpet or something under it to contrast the wood slats.

Still looks good though. Supposed to light up inside at night, too.

PS - the Robson Square waterfalls are flowing.

Pics by me today:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delirium

the winner was announced for the Robson Redux - it's called 'Urban Reef'
i like how there's multiple uses. sorry the images are so large!

http://static.vivadesigncomp.ca

EdinVan · #**11017** Posted **Jun 25, 2014, 9:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

PS - the Robson Square waterfalls are flowing.

Mr. Erickson will be as pleased to see this as I was.

Genauso · #**11018** Posted **Jun 25, 2014, 3:16 PM**

Thanks for posting officedweller. I think these urban enjoyments improve each year, and this urban reef seems so practical that I wouldn't mind if it returned next year. I imagine the tall pieces were not included because they could be tipped over.

The new parklet(s?) are coming out too. The one on Commercial at Prado Cafe will have an extra level of artistry to it with laser woodburning designs.

officedweller · #**11019** Posted **Jun 25, 2014, 5:15 PM**

Good point about being tipped over - guess it also depends on the width of the base.

dleung · #**11020** Posted **Jun 26, 2014, 2:54 AM**

"Urban Reef". Yawn... CNC-fabricated furniture is so 2010

Far better-detailed versions in any of the below examples:

http://www.dezeen.com/2010/01/08/urban-adapter-by-rocker-lange-architects/

http://jnrbabfab.blogspot.ca/2012/04/parametric-timber-furniture.html

http://retaildesignblog.net/2014/03/28/the-skeleton-bench-by-bilgoray-pozner