Burnaby Updates

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks for posting!
Good to see this moving ahead and confirmation of number of floors.
That's the one called "Metro King" in last summer's Anthem newsletter where it was described as 63 storeys. Nice bump in floor count!

Interestingly, the report says they're not maxing out the total density available (14.3 FSR - they're proposing 11.6) or height. "While the applicant is providing the full 20% inclusionary requirement, they are not taking the full offset due to the building's proposed height efficiency that is, taking the full offset would result in a taller building than the site can efficiently accommodate."

[officedweller]

Article from the Hive.
No renderings - available late July at Public Hearing stage.
UrbanYVR says architect is Chris Dikeakos Architects Inc.

692-ft-tall tower proposed to replace former Cactus Club Metrotown on Kingsway
Kenneth Chan
|
Jun 28 2021, 6:26 pm
...
The proposal calls for a 692-ft-tall tower with 66 storeys containing a mix of uses.

While it would be taller than the region’s current highest building, the 659-ft-tall Living Shangri-La in downtown Vancouver, there are other towers in Metro Vancouver that are proposed or currently under construction that will be taller than this project, including the 755-ft-tall Concord Metrotown Two tower across the street.

There will be 645 homes, comprising 372 condominium homes, 200 market rental homes, and 73 non-market rental homes — following the municipal government’s inclusionary rental housing policy. Residents will have access to 18,900 sq ft of shared amenity space.

The residential floors sit above nine storeys of commercial space, including seven storeys of office and a double-height ground floor of restaurant and cafe uses. The combined commercial space component is about 149,000 sq ft.

The total floor area is 655,430 sq ft for a floor area ratio density of a floor area that is 11.64 times larger than the size of the 56,322 sq ft lot....


Site of Anthem Properties’ proposed tower at 4653-4673 Kingsway, Burnaby. (City of Burnaby)

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/4653-4673-kingsway-4638-4670-hazel-street-burnaby-anthem-properties

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Interestingly, the report says they're not maxing out the total density available (14.3 FSR - they're proposing 11.6) or height. "While the applicant is providing the full 20% inclusionary requirement, they are not taking the full offset due to the building's proposed height efficiency that is, taking the full offset would result in a taller building than the site can efficiently accommodate."

What does that mean? There are examples of very tall towers on small sites, so I am not sure what constraints they are talking about.

And I presume that offset that they are not taking can be transferred to another site, for yet again more height and density in Burnaby. Quickly headed for the 1000' barrier.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by logan5

What does that mean? There are examples of very tall towers on small sites, so I am not sure what constraints they are talking about.

And I presume that offset that they are not taking can be transferred to another site, for yet again more height and density in Burnaby. Quickly headed for the 1000' barrier.

I have no clue what the statement means, but maybe once we see the design it'll be apparent. It seemed like they're already squeezing a lot of units into a single tower.

Burnaby experts may know better, but I don't believe you can transfer unused density from one site to another here. Each is a unique rezoning, and if a developer choses to build under the absolute FAR on a site, then that theoretical potential is lost.

[Klazu]

With 3 more floors, I do wonder what makes this so much shorter than the Concord tower? Rental floors will have a really low ceiling height?

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by logan5

What does that mean? There are examples of very tall towers on small sites, so I am not sure what constraints they are talking about.

And I presume that offset that they are not taking can be transferred to another site, for yet again more height and density in Burnaby. Quickly headed for the 1000' barrier.

I suspect that it means that a substantially taller tower would require thicker shear walls and columns, potentially an extra elevator stack. With setback and tower separation rules, the lost GFA from increased structure and vertical circulation might irreparably erode the usable GFA, preferred unit efficiency and count, and/or the proforma wouldn't work any more despite the additional height and associated GFA.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Interestingly, the report says they're not maxing out the total density available (14.3 FSR - they're proposing 11.6) or height. "While the applicant is providing the full 20% inclusionary requirement, they are not taking the full offset due to the building's proposed height efficiency that is, taking the full offset would result in a taller building than the site can efficiently accommodate."

Good catch.

I'm looking at New York's skinny skyscrapers and wondering what other "factors" are influencing those conclusions .

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by scryer

Good catch.

I'm looking at New York's skinny skyscrapers and wondering what other "factors" are influencing those conclusions .

The non-viability of a "Billionaire's Row" on Kingsway in Burnaby.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Klazu

With 3 more floors, I do wonder what makes this so much shorter than the Concord tower? Rental floors will have a really low ceiling height?

Concord will probably have taller retail floors and overall podium height.

There's also the possibility of (Concord) having taller penthouse and subpenthouse levels along with amenity level at the podium roof.

Although,....that doesn't fully explain it.
The Anthem tower has the residential sitting on top of what's supposed to be a 16 floor Commercial/office podium ( 7 storeys of office and 9 storeys commercial).

Office floor heights are usually quite tall, and having that mix in there would definitely increase your overall height.
And since I'm not aware of any office space in the Concord tower (they are planning for a separate tower that will be entirely office usage in the last phase of the project), the implication would mean very very tall commercial floors and that doesn't entirely make sense since the podium doesn't seem to indicate anything close to or approaching 16 floors of commercial/retail in that podium.

Maybe its going to have a really tall crown.
It certainly looks it in the renders.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Article from the Hive.
No renderings - available late July at Public Hearing stage.
UrbanYVR says architect is Chris Dikeakos Architects Inc.


https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/4653-4673-kingsway-4638-4670-hazel-street-burnaby-anthem-properties

Good to see new office space on the north side of Kingsway!

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

The Anthem tower has the residential sitting on top of what's supposed to be a 16 floor Commercial/office podium ( 7 storeys of office and 9 storeys commercial).

Office floor heights are usually quite tall, and having that mix in there would definitely increase your overall height.

I think the podium is nine storeys in total, all commercial. Seven of those are office floors and one is a double height (so counts as two) retail/restaurant floor.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I think the podium is nine storeys in total, all commercial. Seven of those are office floors and one is a double height (so counts as two) retail/restaurant floor.

Oh, I misread that.

So a 9 (mostly office) storey tall podium out of the total of 66 storeys.
Now it makes more sense.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

I suspect that it means that a substantially taller tower would require thicker shear walls and columns, potentially an extra elevator stack. With setback and tower separation rules, the lost GFA from increased structure and vertical circulation might irreparably erode the usable GFA, preferred unit efficiency and count, and/or the proforma wouldn't work any more despite the additional height and associated GFA.

Thanks for the response. It sounded like they were saying it was purely a physical constraint, but re-reading it, you are Probly right.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by vanman

Good to see new office space on the north side of Kingsway!

Yes, this is truly the first modern tower to tie downtown Metrotown from Station Square to the north side. Let the fun begin!

[rofina]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The non-viability of a "Billionaire's Row" on Kingsway in Burnaby.

Can any local builders speak to this?

Does the code and engineering complications increase so much that its not worth it to go for maximum height? IE; the returns wont justify the additional investment needed?

ROI is really the only reason I can think of behind not building to maximum height and density.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by rofina

Can any local builders speak to this?

Does the code and engineering complications increase so much that its not worth it to go for maximum height? IE; the returns wont justify the additional investment needed?

ROI is really the only reason I can think of behind not building to maximum height and density.

With density it might be the mix of acceptable uses. The Anthem tower may be maxing out the residential FAR, but not the commercial, for example. Or to get more market condos they'd have to provide more rental and non-market than the site could comfortably accommodate.

As to height - it's happened before in Burnaby that a developer doesn't build the highest possible. In theory Amazing Brentwood could have been 70 storeys; they built 56. City of Lougheed allowed 65 storeys, and is being built at 55.

[Prometheus]

It's so amazing that despite having to give 1/5 of their project away for less than market value, we may soon get to watch the construction of yet another future suburban tower with greater vertical boldness than anything ever constructed in the City of Vancouver, the region's core. And on high ground too! The suburbs have become fun to watch.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The non-viability of a "Billionaire's Row" on Kingsway in Burnaby.

I just wanted to point out that the construction and engineering that goes into one of them makes it possible for us to do it here . I think we possess the knowledge and construction factors to build a 60+ story building on a parcel of land that is larger than anything on billionaire's row.

I feel like the "factors" that come into play as mentioned is actually really just Burnaby being careful not to awaken the NIMBYs .

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by scryer

I just wanted to point out that the construction and engineering that goes into one of them makes it possible for us to do it here . I think we possess the knowledge and construction factors to build a 60+ story building on a parcel of land that is larger than anything on billionaire's row.

I feel like the "factors" that come into play as mentioned is actually really just Burnaby being careful not to awaken the NIMBYs .

I think it's practical considerations at work.

Just look at the Brentwood towers - they were approved to go taller, but economic viability limited their height.
Those Brentwood towers also had pretty deep suites with windowless bedrooms, so fatter towers may not necessarily make for desirable floorspace.

[Sheba]

Burnaby Hospital redevelopment reaches major milestone

People in Burnaby are one step closer to a state-of-the-art hospital, as preferred proponent EllisDon Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to undertake Phase 1 of the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment.

The selection of EllisDon Infrastructure follows an extensive evaluation of shortlisted teams to design and build the new Keith and Betty Beedie Pavilion, expand the Support Facilities Building to include a new energy centre and renovate existing buildings on campus. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2021. The Beedie Pavilion and expansion of the Support Facilities Building will be complete in 2025, with renovations complete in 2027.

...

Phase 1 of the redevelopment will see the construction of a six-storey, 83-bed pavilion with underground parking. All patient rooms, except for one, will be single-patient, which will provide greater comfort and privacy for patients and their families. The pavilion will include a maternity and labour unit, a neonatal intensive care unit and a medical inpatient unit with negative pressure rooms and outbreak zones to isolate infectious diseases.

The pavilion will also include a new inpatient mental health and substance use unit with a secured outdoor patio. Within this unit is a five-bed crisis stabilization unit that will provide short-term inpatient care, assessment and treatment for patients in crisis, at risk or in severe distress.

...

Futhermore, Phase 1 will include an expansion of the emergency department, operating and procedure rooms and other support areas.

With funding from the Province and the Burnaby Hospital Foundation, Phase 1 of the redevelopment will cost approximately $612 million.

Construction on Phase 2 of the redevelopment, which includes building the second patient-care tower with 160 beds and a new cancer treatment centre, is expected to begin in 2025, once the business plan is approved. The redevelopment will be among the Province’s largest health-care investments at a cost of $1.4 billion. The provincial government announced the approval of the Burnaby Hospital Redevelopment Project on Sept. 3, 2019. The last major upgrade to the Burnaby Hospital was more than 40 years ago.