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

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Considering the 'answer' is as sure as anyone about the final treatment, I'd hardly call it definitive. The concrete could surely be removed, and I think that would be the best treatment, but the architect may have another theme in mind.

Of course it's not definitive, but from what we see currently as well as the renders it's not unlikely to remain the way it is.

A smooth rendered wall, maybe in an off-white color might not look bad for the lobby.

[LeftCoaster]

Yep, not disagreeing here, I'm no architect.

I would prefer to see exposed brick, but I'm just more of a numbers guy so what do I know?

[mcminsen]

March 2 '16, my pics

[trofirhen]

... just startin' to cook.

[Infrequent Poster]

Thanks mcminsen for all the photo updates you are treating us to tonight!

[officedweller]

Thanks!
I guess that cut-out in the podium (alley side) is for the construction elevator, and when that's removed, they'll fill in the gap?
And I guess that shows the extent of the angled side of the tower floorplate.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Yep, not disagreeing here, I'm no architect.

I would prefer to see exposed brick, but I'm just more of a numbers guy so what do I know?

I'd like exposed brick as well, but I'm wondering if there even is any brick on the sides. It looks like just the facade has brick walls.

[officedweller]

Here's what was there before - not the most attractive brick (or is that cast concrete with wood slat markings?).


EDIT: Yeah, you're right -

It is cast in place concrete with wood marking:

Pic by me Jun 24, 2014:

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Here's what was there before - not the most attractive brick (or is that cast concrete with wood slat markings?).

To me it looks like cast concrete with wood board markings.

Edit: After looking again, it might be cinderblocks?

[mcminsen]

Here are some interesting excerpts from a Business In Vancouver article.

**********************

Engineering heritage restoration merges future, past

The Exchange tower is one of several restorations of historic B.C. buildings underway

By Glen Korstrom

Architects and engineers involved in the Exchange tower project are doing far more than simply keeping the building’s facade. Instead, they are completely restoring the original building.

They are also linking floors so that people who are on one of the restored building’s L-shaped, 10,000-square-foot floors will be able to walk seamlessly into the new tower. Floors in the combined new tower will have twice that square footage.

The part of the floor that is in the old building will gain stability from being attached to the new building, explained Leslie Peer, a partner at Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers, which is engineering the tower.

“There’s a sideways load, which is the wind load or the seismic load,” Peer said. “That creates a sideways or lateral force against the building.

“Most older buildings are deficient for seismic loads. What we’re doing is instead of putting a new lateral system into the existing building, we’re tying the existing building to the new building so the lateral loads are taken down.”

The existing building will keep its original elevator shafts in what was its centre.

The new combined building’s elevator shaft and stairwell core is being built to a much higher standard than the one in the restored original building. Not only is the new building’s core sufficient to hold up the new tower, it is also sufficient to provide lateral support for the existing building.

Extra support in the combined building comes from thicker walls in its elevator and stairwell core. Those walls are made out of high-strength concrete and extra rebar.

Because the new building towers directly above the old building starting at the 11th floor, other adjustments were also necessary.

“There’s a new set of columns coming down through the existing building to take the dead loads [of weight] from the new tower,” Peer said.

[s211]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

“There’s a new set of columns coming down through the existing building to take the dead loads [of weight] from the new tower,” Peer said.

Which, as I told by those in the leasing market, has been a "hell no" from prospective tenants who would be faced with moving into a column farm.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Here are some interesting excerpts from a Business In Vancouver article.

**********************

Engineering heritage restoration merges future, past

The Exchange tower is one of several restorations of historic B.C. buildings underway

By Glen Korstrom

Architects and engineers involved in the Exchange tower project are doing far more than simply keeping the building’s facade. Instead, they are completely restoring the original building.

They are also linking floors so that people who are on one of the restored building’s L-shaped, 10,000-square-foot floors will be able to walk seamlessly into the new tower. Floors in the combined new tower will have twice that square footage.

The part of the floor that is in the old building will gain stability from being attached to the new building, explained Leslie Peer, a partner at Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers, which is engineering the tower.

“There’s a sideways load, which is the wind load or the seismic load,” Peer said. “That creates a sideways or lateral force against the building.

“Most older buildings are deficient for seismic loads. What we’re doing is instead of putting a new lateral system into the existing building, we’re tying the existing building to the new building so the lateral loads are taken down.”

The existing building will keep its original elevator shafts in what was its centre.

The new combined building’s elevator shaft and stairwell core is being built to a much higher standard than the one in the restored original building. Not only is the new building’s core sufficient to hold up the new tower, it is also sufficient to provide lateral support for the existing building.

Extra support in the combined building comes from thicker walls in its elevator and stairwell core. Those walls are made out of high-strength concrete and extra rebar.

Because the new building towers directly above the old building starting at the 11th floor, other adjustments were also necessary.

“There’s a new set of columns coming down through the existing building to take the dead loads [of weight] from the new tower,” Peer said.

Sometimes I don't get why they need to make a frankenstein out of an existing heritage building. There are plenty of sites to go really tall in this town (of course City Hall would assure that isn't possible), and I don't get why they need to squeeze a modern tower to a smaller site and make a monstrosity out of an existing structure. The renovation of Hotel Georgia is quite acceptable as the heritage portion is still a standalone structure, but I'm no big fan of a frankenstein building. Perhaps in a city full of heritage buildings and running out lands to develop, that I may agree, but not in the case of Vancouver. I would also regard the redevelopment of the Sinclair Centre as an afront to heritage conservation, and hope that never happens.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Vin

Sometimes I don't get why they need to make a frankenstein out of an existing heritage building. There are plenty of sites to go really tall in this town (of course City Hall would assure that isn't possible), and I don't get why they need to squeeze a modern tower to a smaller site and make a monstrosity out of an existing structure. The renovation of Hotel Georgia is quite acceptable as the heritage portion is still a standalone structure, but I'm no big fan of a frankenstein building. Perhaps in a city full of heritage buildings and running out lands to develop, that I may agree, but not in the case of Vancouver. I would also regard the redevelopment of the Sinclair Centre as an afront to heritage conservation, and hope that never happens.

Why not Sinclair centre? It was already hacked up in a time when it was common to make a mess of heritage things. Now it's an underused hodgepodge mess of a shopping centre with lots of dated 80's finishes that need to be toned down and reworked. However there doesn't need to be a tower in the middle of it to make it feasible, thats just a developer bonus.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

Why not Sinclair centre? It was already hacked up in a time when it was common to make a mess of heritage things. Now it's an underused hodgepodge mess of a shopping centre with lots of dated 80's finishes that need to be toned down and reworked. However there doesn't need to be a tower in the middle of it to make it feasible, thats just a developer bonus.

An interior overhaul would be a good thing at Sinclair centre, but yes, definitely no tower on this site.

Sorry off topic here mod.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today (had another meeting).

You can see the angle cuts on the floorplate
(NW corner to appease Jameson House residents, and SW corner too).

[Bankview]

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by officedweller

You can see the angle cuts on the floorplate
(NW corner to appease Jameson House residents, and SW corner too).

Thank goodness! Perhaps now the flow of their Feng Shui can be retained.

[csbvan]

The building is now up for sale. Is the office building boom coming to a close?

https://www.biv.com/article/2016/3/c...ange-tower-sa/

[osirisboy]

No they are probably trying to cash in like the other big sales that have occurred lately

[Vin]

Everyone's greedy for big Chinese money these days, so it comes as no surprise. What's shocking is that the tower is only 10% leased. Are the lease rates way too high?