32-storey residential tower approved for downtown Vancouver's West End

Artistic rendering of 1055 Harwood Street, Vancouver. (NSDA Architects / Intracorp / Strand)

A 300-ft-tall, 32-storey residential building in downtown Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood has been approved by Vancouver City Council.

In a meeting Tuesday, a rezoning application submitted by local developers Intracorp and Strand for 1055 Harwood Street was green lighted following a public hearing.

Current condition

Site of 1055 Harwood Street, Vancouver. (NSDA Architects / Intracorp / Strand)

Future condition

Artistic rendering of 1055 Harwood Street, Vancouver. (NSDA Architects / Intracorp / Strand)

It calls for 125 homes, including 82 market strata residential units and 43 social housing units, with social housing accounting for 25% of the building’s total floor area of 171,400 sq. ft.

Four levels of underground parking will hold 150 vehicle parking stalls and 162 bike parking spaces.

Artistic rendering of 1055 Harwood Street, Vancouver. (NSDA Architects / Intracorp / Strand)

“The building has been designed as a ‘tower in the park’ with the use of concrete and brick to create an articulated base transitioning into a slender tower with a simple concrete frame featuring expansive windows, spandrel glass and spacious balconies that are predominately inset into the building’s facade,” reads the design rationale by NSDA Architects.

“The tower responds to the existing character of the West End through the utilization of a variety of material treatments, such as brick and painted concrete; both of which are conducive to maintaining the established, domestic typology of the area.”

Artistic rendering of 1055 Harwood Street, Vancouver. (NSDA Architects / Intracorp / Strand)

The project’s density on its 17,300-sq-ft development site is 9.91 times the size of its lot, which is currently occupied by a three-storey, wood frame building built in 1948. This aging co-op building contains 30 suites.

The City’s West End Community Plan permits this form of development.

Immediately adjacent to this lot is the site of the proposed redevelopment of two towers with an outdoor living space concept.

Architectural rendering of the proposed BlueSky development at the intersection of Thurlow Street and Harwood Street. (BlueSky Properties / Henriquez Partners Architects)

Architectural rendering of the proposed BlueSky development at the intersection of Thurlow Street and Harwood Street. (BlueSky Properties / Henriquez Partners Architects)

See also