CF Pacific Centre Developments

[officedweller]

I don't mind having the mall entrance in the middle of the block - it activates that area.
Compare to Nordstrom, and Sears before that, where they renovated to put entrances right at the congested corners, instead of along the building as in the original Eaton's design.

[SpongeG]

City of Vancouver to review plan to transform Pacific Centre mall entrance

Urban Development Panel to evaluate four new development projects at March 20 meeting, including replacing mall rotunda with two-storey pavilion building

Courier staff Vancouver Courier
March 14, 2019


It’s the UDP’s second review of the project but its first as a development application with the current proposal. Rederning Perkins + Will Architects
Pacific Centre rotunda: 701 West Georgia


Cadillac Fairview’s plan to develop a two-storey pavilion building to replace the existing Pacific Centre Mall rotunda at the intersection of West Georgia and Howe streets is among projects that go before the Urban Design Panel March 20.

It’s the UDP’s second review of the project but its first as a complete development application with the current proposal.

Designed by Perkins + Will Architects, the pavilion includes new mall entrances from West Georgia Street, additional retail spaces on the main and upper level, improvements to the public open space and upgrades to below grade areas and the parkade.

The Development Permit Board is expected to make a decision on the development application at its May 13 meeting.

...

https://www.westerninvestor.com/news/bri...-pacific-centre-mall-entrance-1.23664019

[trofirhen]

I don't like that 45 degree angle or the, in particular, the slightly sloping roof. It gives it a vaguely "utilitarian" look to it - not in keeping with a smart, city centre mall entrance.
Having that building with a large end-to-end curved interface would be much sleeker ... IMO

[officedweller]

That' because the glass facade is NOT the mall entrance.
It's expected to the an Apple store.

The mall entrance is to the right of the green wall.

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

That' because the glass facade is NOT the mall entrance.
It's expected to the an Apple store.

The mall entrance is to the right of the green wall.

Which is my whole point. From this vantage point, you can't tell where the mall entrance is. Visually, my mind would see the big portal out front and think that's the entrance.

Or is it the intent to make the Apple store a walk-through into the mall, akin to all those airports that force you to walk through duty-free shops before you can get to your gates?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by s211

Which is my whole point. From this vantage point, you can't tell where the mall entrance is. Visually, my mind would see the big portal out front and think that's the entrance.

Or is it the intent to make the Apple store a walk-through into the mall, akin to all those airports that force you to walk through duty-free shops before you can get to your gates?

It's the same as the mall entrance on Dunsmuir under the overhead walkway - it's mid-block in-line with the mall corridor - which I think is fine. Some people used to walk through the Shoppers when it was on the corner @ Howe and I suppose some people still walk through the Sephora.

The north side on Dunsmuir also used to have a mall entrance mid-block (which is now Holt's entrance).

[Feathered Friend]

The new "not Apple Store" was at the Urban Design Panel tonight in what could easily go down as one of the most frustrating reviews of all time.

I'll write more about it later, if a certain other forum member doesn't beat me to it first, but my god was it drawn out and senseless. Literally, it could be used as a duel definition of Perfect being the enemy of Good, and cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

The new "not Apple Store" was at the Urban Design Panel tonight in what could easily go down as one of the most frustrating reviews of all time.

I'll write more about it later, if a certain other forum member doesn't beat me to it first, but my god was it drawn out and senseless. Literally, it could be used as a duel definition of Perfect being the enemy of Good, and cutting off your nose to spite your face.

hmm, sounds like bureaucracy at work!

[vannick]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

The new "not Apple Store" was at the Urban Design Panel tonight in what could easily go down as one of the most frustrating reviews of all time.

I'll write more about it later, if a certain other forum member doesn't beat me to it first, but my god was it drawn out and senseless. Literally, it could be used as a duel definition of Perfect being the enemy of Good, and cutting off your nose to spite your face.

i'd be interested to hear more...

[Feathered Friend]

A Bad Apple – Vancouver’s UDP Rejects Pacific Centre’s Newest Flagship Store

701 West Georgia (Pacific Centre Plaza)
One of Vancouver’s worst kept secrets is that a new flagship Apple Store will be replacing the rotunda at Pacific Centre. After all, why else would the mall’s ownership team, a partnership of three Ontario based pension plans and a compensation board, abandon their previously approved expansion for one designed in Apple’s signature style.

There have been many updates to Pacific Centre since it opened in 1971. Presently, one of the complex’s office towers, the Canaccord Tower, is being revitalized with a modern look, and in 2006, an expansion of Holt Renfew consumed a publicly accessible atrium. That left the ownership with a hard, costly choice, to either substitute that lost space at this location or provide a high profile entrance to the Canada Line’s Vancouver City Centre Station.

In hindsight, they clearly made the right choice. Though that transit focused plaza has led to the mall’s layby drop off becoming more of a kiss and ride, given the underground loading and drop off spaces, the city’s engineers agreed the layby could be eliminated to increase the public realm in this application.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2019/04/08...s-pacific-centres-newest-flagship-store/

[officedweller]

The wider views provided by the model looks more cohesive than the narrower views provided by the renderings.
i.e. the facade is a continuation of the angle of the Four Seasons podium.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2019/04/08...s-pacific-centres-newest-flagship-store/

wtf is wrong with these people. how can they be so dumb, thick skulled or whatever other word you want. of course it is an Apple Store. just put them out to pasture already; useless waste of time and money for applicants to have to deal with these people.

[Vin]

And this is better looking and more inviting than then glass dome, how? Looks even worse than a high school science project gone wrong IMHO.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Vin

And this is better looking and more inviting than then glass dome, how? Looks even worse than a high school science project gone wrong IMHO.

hey i like the glass dome, trees, etc. but that isn't sticking around. this is a good 2nd choice.

[SpongeG]

Reality is they aren't making money as is, this would bring in rent for them.

[Metro-One]

Getting a little tired of the green walls everywhere.

Some of them I enjoy (especially those that use a variety of flowering plants / vines) but sometimes I want an urban space to look more, well, urban. This would be a good spot for lights and signage over a green wall, being that it is a main shopping mall entrance diagonal to a major street corner.

Green roofs are different, those are almost always fine.

[phesto]

There's a DP application to redo the amenity roof surrounding 777 Dunsmuir, including getting rid of one of the two tennis courts and adding a basketball court, bocce court, a yoga circle and "additional casual seating areas throughout the terrace".

https://development.vancouver.ca/pc777dunsmuir/index.htm

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by phesto

There's a DP application to redo the amenity roof surrounding 777 Dunsmuir, including getting rid of one of the two tennis courts and adding a basketball court, bocce court, a yoga circle and "additional casual seating areas throughout the terrace".

They need to build a tenant gym for Pacific Centre instead of preferred rates at Steve Nash Sports Club.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

hey i like the glass dome, trees, etc. but that isn't sticking around. this is a good 2nd choice.

The other day walking back from work at the Art Gallery square, I looked over towards Hotel Georgia and the glass dome, and it struck me that they really complement each other at the two corners of Howe and W. Georgia. That Macbook roof monstrosity will ruin the whole area, and akin to having the old Sears/Eatons urinal building back.

If you like the glass dome, I don't get how you don't feel anything regarding its pending destruction, especially when what's proposed is nothing but a tacky Macbook temple perched on top of those ruthless steps, with a horrendous green screen as a backdrop.

[officedweller]

Pic by me yesterday: