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

[a very long weekend]

but you don't measure cities that way! 2.5 million people! these ridiculous boundaries! policy, stupid policy!

ugh, yeah, because the jurisdiction of city of vancouver's planning department isn't limited to the city of vancouver.

the point isn't that vancouver is a puny city with only 575k people, it's that those people are the ones who choose the people who (at least, theoretically) make vancouver policy. in this context, the way vancouver looks makes a lot of sense as the result of local inputs.

[Hourglass]

I actually like this project. I like the massing and the way it's integrated into the older building. Would it be nicer if it had a bit more height? Of course, but either way, will be interesting to see how this one turns out.

IMO, the height issue is a big deal simply because the City has made it one. Does it really make such a fundamental difference to people's lives or the urban fabric having a view of the mountains from a specific part of the city? Or in a situation of land scarcity, would the city be better served by more efficient use of land? If I want a view of the mountains, I can probably walk 100m to another part of the shoreline. Or go up to QE Park (oh wait, blocked by the trees...). Seriously, when there are bigger urban issues to deal with, this strikes me as an artificial and pointless use of resources tied up in managing an artificially-created problem.

Multiple view cones and artificial height limits just add to bureaucracy (and for every project, it seems the developers try for exceptions on height and density -- which then make a mockery of the limits anyway).

Wouldn't it be easier if city just took a section of the downtown peninsula where there is minimal impact on the mountain views and put in a non-negotiable height restriction of, say, 250m?

[spm2013]

I follow Hourglass' view and prefer some common sense. It's not like people who have some opposing opinions on the viewcone want some freeway down the center of the city with huge skyscrapers on every block. If they aren't going to allow for any more height then I'll just settle for interesting designs

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by scrapin

Its a sad state of affairs when a city of 2.5 million people is excited for a 377 foot "skyscraper".

Were you to have the ability to conduct a thorough survey of residents of the world's metro areas of two and a half million people, I suspect that you would be shocked at just how many people would be opposed to a 377' office building in their city's downtown core, much less anything taller. Of the generally small handful of residents who would be keen on a much taller office building, I would still suspect that they would be supportive of the proposed tower. `Just my opinion of course.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Pinion

We have our own thread, it's called North Shore updates.

Some of us our more interested in the urban planning/renewal side of it than the size of the penis tower. Although I do think viewcones are silly and would like taller ones.

Lol.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:

[Prometheus]

Thanks for the update.

[giallo]

Thanks, OD!

[officedweller]

Article on the LEED Platinum aspect of this building:

http://www.biv.com/article/20140715/BIV0...n-design-transforming-city-office-towers

[Klazu]

I think the thread title should be changed to reflect the new project name (The Exchange Tower)...

I walk by every day and they have stripped the whole building completely bare from inside. Similar to the Sears/Nordstrom renovation, they have pretty much just left the building skeleton intact and I am sure even that is being strengthened significantly.

They have also started pouring some concrete now, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a crane go up in soon.

[jlousa]

Any recent pics of the excavation?

[Genauso]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Article on the LEED Platinum aspect of this building:

http://www.biv.com/article/20140715/BIV0...n-design-transforming-city-office-towers

New version of the same article
http://www.biv.com/article/20140806/BIV0...wer-first-with-triple-paned-curtain-wall
triple-glazed windows, on site water treatment, $200 million budget

This project has been a bit of a sleeper to me and until now, but with 400,000 sq ft I'm starting to wake up to its presence. I'm looking forward to seeing the finishes. For context Telus Garden has about 500,000 sq ft or new space and the city's target is to maintain adding 2 million sq ft per decade.

[Klazu]

In 6 months this building will be prominently visible from this view.

[Locked In]

Cool photo - don't think I've seen that angle before.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:

[GlassCity]

Thank you so much for the pictures! I've been wondering what the site's been looking like for a while now, but I'm never in the area. I'm almost as excited for this project as I am for Trump.

[officedweller]

Once MNP Tower is fully clad, 745 Thurlow and Trump top out and Telus Garden's condo podium is clad
- I think this one may be at grade and everyone's attention will be on it.

[Hot Rod]

shouldn't this be U/C and not Proposed

[officedweller]

No concrete poured yet...

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by officedweller

No concrete poured yet...

Approved? It's certainly more than just a proposal.