From the red sign, Arc International is the architect, and this will be their offices.
Here's the webpage for the project - a number of rendering there if anyone can extract them:
Does the city mandate that projects like this move the hydro poles underground?
I've seen it done on the projects near my loft on 8th/Cambie when they were building The Rise, and I think the Crossroads development, and it made the area look so much better. But I'm assuming the developer pays the city to do this. Is this correct?
I think that's right.
Not sure what'll happen at Dolce Vita (or if it has already been put underground. There may be an issue with the City of losing the "character" of the overhead lines if they are undergounded (apart from the fact that they are apparently a huge hazard in the event of an earthquake).
Most large projects have to make provisions for underground service. It's not a requirement on infill projects. While it would be nice to have them place the wires underground, they would have to return above ground immediately for the building next door as the lines don't terminate there.
I guess power would be switching on and off on a regular basis if every construction project had to relocate cables. They should really do one block/street at a time