CF Pacific Centre Developments

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

is that actually stone in the alcove part? it honestly looks like plywood to me. no joke.

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

is that actually stone in the alcove part? it honestly looks like plywood to me. no joke.

Yes, it's stone. And no, it doesn't look like plywood in any way.

[Vin]

To me, this building is now quite ok and pleasing to the eye except for that 3rd floor restaurant. That could've been designed a lot better.

[BodomReaper]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Absolutely brutal at grade on Howe St.

The saving grace of the bland yet fussy brand of Vancouver architecture on display here is that street levels are usually handled decently. We don't even get that with this one.

[officedweller]

It's like the architects and planners saw the parking ramps, assumed "pedestrian unfriendly" and threw up their hands.

The more likely reason is that Nordstrom didn't want to have to police a couple of back-side entrances to the store.

EATON's had FIVE (5) street entrances to its store:
Rotunda, Granville near SE corner, Robson near SW corner, Howe mid-block and Howe behind TD Tower Through the breezeway.

Sears had SIX (6) street entrances to its store:
Rotunda, Granville near SE corner, Granville & Robson on the corner, Robson & Howe on the corner, Howe mid-block and Howe on the NW corner.

Nordstrom will have THREE (3) street entrances to its store:
Rotunda, Granville near SE corner and Robson & Howe on the corner.

[mcminsen]

Here's a walking tour of that sidewalk along Howe, from a pedestrian's point of view. I realized as I was doing this that I have so rarely walked this stretch over the years. I kind of forgot that there are 3 vehicle ramps along there. I hope they paint the grey service doors a colour to match the wall panels.


April 2 '15, all my pics



















Looking north.



Looking north.

[officedweller]

Even the EATON'S had at least 1 display window along that stretch too.

They still haven't clad the beam above the corner entrance.
I wonder if it will be clad in marble, spandrel or aluminum?

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Hourglass

Interesting solution in London's Oxford Street for a building of similar mass (but maybe smaller). Instead of trying to break-up the massing, they put in place an aluminum 'veil' that shimmers in the breeze. I walked by this when I was last there, and the effect was very cool. Don't have a picture but a video link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp9OHq3LdCk

I love that! It would be great to have something like that here.

Originally Posted by Graham_Yvr

I tend to take a differing view from the detractors of the Howe Street Side. From the Art Gallery, Robson/Hornby, and Robson Square the new facade is fantastic. It reflects back the city, opens up the space and is bright and clean.

The alcove is substantially better than before, with the light toned stone replacing the dark tunnel like brown that was there before.

From some of the comments, I think people are basing their comments solely on images and not the real life in-person building, which I walk past daily.

The transformation - while perhaps not everyone's wish come true - is a triumph over the dreck that was there before. Of course that's just my opinion.

Here's the view as you approach through the Hornby/Robson intersection. I have to agree that it's a big improvement, especially considering that the task was to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.




April 2 '15, all my pics

[Capitol Hill]

Growing up in Vancouver part time, I have fond memories of shopping downtown with my grandparents at Eaton's (& Woodward's, RIP). It's strange about the Howe St. side, I can never remember entering or exiting on Howe. We'd get off the bus at Burrard & Robson, then walk over to Eaton's at the Howe & Robson entrance, shop the store, walk the mall, hit HB, then down to Woodward's. I wonder if our travel patterns were mirrored by a lot of others?

[officedweller]

The Howe street entrance was always the last exit from the store for customers who were there at closing time.
You'd be funnelled out that door.

[Vin]

There was also another back entrance near the Men's Shoe section when the place was Sears and Eaton's (west of the indoor Starbucks).

[officedweller]

Yeah, that was the one to the breezeway (and to TD Bank and TD Tower).
That was closed up and the makeshift entrance on the corner was added.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Even the EATON'S had at least 1 display window along that stretch too.

That stretch was fine in the EATON'S days, a large entrance, a large display window with some black spandrel to match, it gave purpose to the recessed sidewalk stretch as well.

Thanks for the tour mcminsen, the blank area is bizarre, I walked it a few times now and it's no better in person, especially with all the utility doors along the stretch. ...and to think people were complaining about the blank wall at the new Simons in Park Royal!

[Vin]

Some random vertical strips of LED lighting on the walls would've added more to the overall aesthetics, especially at night.

[red-paladin]

I just hope we get a large vertical Nordstrom sign to go with the Granville st. style.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Graham_Yvr

I tend to take a differing view from the detractors of the Howe Street Side. From the Art Gallery, Robson/Hornby, and Robson Square the new facade is fantastic. It reflects back the city, opens up the space and is bright and clean.

The alcove is substantially better than before, with the light toned stone replacing the dark tunnel like brown that was there before.

From some of the comments, I think people are basing their comments solely on images and not the real life in-person building, which I walk past daily.

The transformation - while perhaps not everyone's wish come true - is a triumph over the dreck that was there before. Of course that's just my opinion.

Wow. Where to start...

[s211]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

is that actually stone in the alcove part? it honestly looks like plywood to me. no joke.

I thought the same thing, too.

[trofirhen]

They could always mitigate the sterile effect by making a "green space" out of it, with plants.
Some could be like ivy, some could be flowering plants. Maybe an arc of woven rattan or bamboo lengthwise, with hanging plants and night lights inside .......
Just an idea .........

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Digressing a little, does that mirrored part of the Howe St side of PC help things along any?
Does it give the feeling of more space; a reflection of the immediate buildings, the sky, and so forth?
Or is the building, and the view from The VAG and RSq just as meh as ever?

Originally Posted by Graham_Yvr

I tend to take a differing view from the detractors of the Howe Street Side. From the Art Gallery, Robson/Hornby, and Robson Square the new facade is fantastic. It reflects back the city, opens up the space and is bright and clean.

The alcove is substantially better than before, with the light toned stone replacing the dark tunnel like brown that was there before.

From some of the comments, I think people are basing their comments solely on images and not the real life in-person building, which I walk past daily.

The transformation - while perhaps not everyone's wish come true - is a triumph over the dreck that was there before. Of course that's just my opinion.

Thanks for opening my eyes to those reflections. I will be looking for them every time I go through Robson Square now.


April 2 '15, my pic

[red-paladin]

I'm still waiting for the project to be finished before making up my mind. The small details that aren't in place yet matter a lot.