Deloitte Summit (410 W. Georgia St) | 92m | 23Fl |Completed

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:



That may be a green wall to the right (opaque, maybe perforated, anyways)

[Tiny Teaspoon]

Pics by me on April 29, 2020. First piece of glass is up!

First post on this forum... very long time lurker. I got inspired to take these pics to post here when I saw the glass but I see above, at least two other members beat me to it!

[misher]

Originally Posted by Tiny Teaspoon

Pics by me on April 29, 2020. First piece of glass is up!

First post on this forum... very long time lurker. I got inspired to take these pics to post here when I saw the glass but I see above, at least two other members beat me to it!

Anyone else starting to disfavor Vancouver's push to build unique expensive buildings? Vancouver house was pushing it already. All this extra work to build something thats not a block could not have been cheap.

[officedweller]

Thanks for the pics as the glass progresses!

[Otis_Van]

First non-glass wall. Sorry, hard to photograph (mine, taken today) because it’s covered in a protective film plus my phone sucks. The panels look metal (aluminum?) and are perforated in some kind of design - presumably that’s to allow all of that hypothetical lush green foliage to climb.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Otis_Van

First non-glass wall. Sorry, hard to photograph (mine, taken today) because it’s covered in a protective film plus my phone sucks. The panels look metal (aluminum?) and are perforated in some kind of design - presumably that’s to allow all of that hypothetical lush green foliage to climb.

Yes, it's the expanded mesh walls. From the renderings you could see the green walls were illuminated from behind so I assume the holes will also allow light to shine out at night and maybe some light in when the plants are still growing out.

https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/400wgeorgia/documents/ApplicantOpenHouseBoards.pdf

[officedweller]

Thanks.
Hopefully the plants will actually be able to grow up them.
Some plants "creep" like ivy and need a porous surface, while others twist around (like beans) and need a straight run.

EDIT: From those open house boards, it looks like they'll have hanging vines, which will probably grow better than vines growing up.

[SFUVancouver]

I think the Westbank (and Henriquez Partners) have learned a lot over the years about green walls. Basically, the climbing structure has to be aesthetically pleasing in its own right and enhance the building's architecture even should the plants wholly fail to take and grow as intended. Woodwards set the standard for this and perhaps this project surpasses it.

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by misher

Anyone else starting to disfavor Vancouver's push to build unique expensive buildings? Vancouver house was pushing it already. All this extra work to build something thats not a block could not have been cheap.

Not me. For decades, Vancouver only build generic 'cookie cutter' glass condos downtown. I personally welcome some unique architecture. I read an article once that described Vancouver's architecture as "background buildings', and now it's time to build some signature, design-first buildings to stand out. It creates a more interesting and dynamic personality for the city.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Graham_Yvr

Not me. For decades, Vancouver only build generic 'cookie cutter' glass condos downtown. I personally welcome some unique architecture. I read an article once that described Vancouver's architecture as "background buildings', and now it's time to build some signature, design-first buildings to stand out. It creates a more interesting and dynamic personality for the city.

Opinion seconded, FWIW.

[Facade Builder]

The green wall panels are perforated allowing for the plant(ivy) to grab hold and climb the wall. Removing the shrink wrap shortly.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by misher

Anyone else starting to disfavor Vancouver's push to build unique expensive buildings? Vancouver house was pushing it already. All this extra work to build something thats not a block could not have been cheap.

Vancouver is filled with so much bland architecture that I welcome anything that deviates from the norm. My favour towards cool architecture is not without some conflict at first though. These buildings tend to be more expensive to build, and more expensive to purchase, so that adds to the unaffordability of the city. But then I remember how insanely expensive the land is, and 99% of Vancouverites would never be able to afford to buy even if the proposed building resembled a commie block.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Facade Builder

The green wall panels are perforated allowing for the plant(ivy) to grab hold and climb the wall. Removing the shrink wrap shortly.

But perforations don't necessarily allow a plant to grab hold, especially if it's a non-porous material like metal.
i.e. if you go to a garden centre, you don't see perforated screens as trellises, you see big open lattices of rods that allow tendrils to wrap around as the plant spirals up. A hole/perforation may not work.

Anyways, it looks like the vines will hang, which is probably a better scenario than climbers.

[LeftCoaster]

Well you don't see perforated screen trellises because they are very expensive as well. If they are wide enough they work just fine. Most of the greenwall failures you see are because of poor maintenance.

[s211]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Well you don't see perforated screen trellises because they are very expensive as well. If they are wide enough they work just fine. Most of the greenwall failures you see are because of poor maintenance.

And lack of qualified arborists. Trying finding one certified to work from a cherry picker or bosun's chair.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today.

The perforations have a mountain pattern.

[zahav]

I am definitely not tired of better designed, standout buildings. I agree with the others, we have so many generic condos, which are fine because they are what really jumpstarted the downtown boom, but now they aren't enough and we need better architecture. And I agree with Giallo, if they put up a bland tower, the prices would be just as much, and you'd have a sub par building. If there was a proven trade off between an elabroate landmark building, or a basic condo that would be affordable, that's a different story. But it's not the case, if these nicer and more landmark towers weren't going up, it'd be some mediocre even more overpriced place

[Marshal]

A bit ago I tagged along with a couple of structural engineers for a look at the frame. The two of them, not associated with the engineers of record, were kind of gobsmacked. I ventured the comment that it was a hectic somewhat chaotic thing to see once you are up in amongst it, and asked, "what do you think?" They both laughed a bit and said "yes. Economical. Could have been more elegant solutions." I said, "but needing more technology, and so costly?" "Yup. Probably." We discussed things after, but my friends, as is usual, remained tight lipped and reticent to criticize."

Aesthetically, the structure seems awkward and hard to read. Yes, a mess. But I know where the structure will and won't get expressed in the end - and what will begin to emerge from it in the next phases. I have doubts but think it will end up a positive surprise. It will certainly blow the crude renderings out of the water.

I also think the three tower wall stretching to Telus will create an interesting spatial condition at street level. Otherwise, I think it would have achieved a better balance of proportions if it had been another 5 + floors. 5 would be enough. 10 more would begin to balance the size and arrangement of the boxes with the overall proportions of the 'silhouette.'

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Marshal

A bit ago I tagged along with a couple of structural engineers for a look at the frame. The two of them, not associated with the engineers of record, were kind of gobsmacked. I ventured the comment that it was a hectic somewhat chaotic thing to see once you are up in amongst it, and asked, "what do you think?" They both laughed a bit and said "yes. Economical. Could have been more elegant solutions." I said, "but needing more technology, and so costly?" "Yup. Probably." We discussed things after, but my friends, as is usual, remained tight lipped and reticent to criticize."

Aesthetically, the structure seems awkward and hard to read. Yes, a mess. But I know where the structure will and won't get expressed in the end - and what will begin to emerge from it in the next phases. I have doubts but think it will end up a positive surprise. It will certainly blow the crude renderings out of the water.

I also think the three tower wall stretching to Telus will create an interesting spatial condition at street level. Otherwise, I think it would have achieved a better balance of proportions if it had been another 5 + floors. 5 would be enough. 10 more would begin to balance the size and arrangement of the boxes with the overall proportions of the 'silhouette.'

It'll be interesting on the other corner with how it plays along with the Canada Post development as well. I think since it's on the corner and with the two other corners relatively underbuilt that it would have been more of a statement to do that enlongation.



Credit: Western Investor

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It'll be interesting on the other corner with how it plays along with the Canada Post development as well. I think since it's on the corner and with the two other corners relatively underbuilt that it would have been more of a statement to do that enlongation.

That render, while it accurately portrays the three Georgia buildings, misses out the Telus condo and the Vancouver Centre II towers behind. A street level render would be an interesting comparison.