New streamlined design for sculptural office tower in downtown Vancouver

Nov 9 2018, 1:42 pm

Local developer Reliance Properties has submitted a formal rezoning application to redevelop 1166 West Pender Street in downtown Vancouver with a slender, sculptural, 31-storey, 388-ft-tall office tower.

The site is currently occupied by an 11-storey, 151,000-sq-ft office tower, completed in 1974, which up until recently was the longtime regional hub of the federal government’s Canada Revenue Agency.

Existing condition

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

Site of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

Site of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

Future condition

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

November 2018 rezoning artistic rendering of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Neil M Denari Architects / Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

The proposal creates 348,931 sq. ft. of total floor area, with ground-level commercial space and 29 levels of office space with varied floor plates. A total of six levels of underground parking will accommodate 199 vehicle parking stalls.

Earlier this year, the proponents revealed an early conceptual design that was more irregular-shaped.

However, the now-revised design, which has LEED Gold environmental certification ambitions, cuts back on some of the building’s more abrupt edges.

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

November 2018 rezoning artistic rendering of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Neil M Denari Architects / Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

November 2018 rezoning artistic rendering of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Neil M Denari Architects / Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

November 2018 rezoning artistic rendering of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Neil M Denari Architects / Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

“Convex and concave exterior walls respond to the contours of the adjacent buildings to form an undulating body wrapped in ceramic-fritted curtain wall glazing,” reads the design rationale by Toronto-based Hariri Pontarini Architects and IBI Group.

“A curved white glass curtain wall affords unobstructed views and establishes a distinct character and impressive presence. The ceramic frit also reduces thermal transmission, lowering heating and cooling costs and improving the building’s sustainability.”

There will be a sculptural staircase that “reflects the sinuous forms” of the exterior walls that connect the upper and lower lobby space, and the sloping facade atop the tower features rooftop garden terraces that step down along the building’s northeast pinnacle.

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

November 2018 rezoning artistic rendering of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Neil M Denari Architects / Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

November 2018 rezoning artistic rendering of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Neil M Denari Architects / Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

However, this step down was also the result of the requirement to abide to the municipal government’s policy to consider the tower’s shadowing impact on Harbour Green Park, located two blocks north.

“The tower deviates from a typical rectangular form by dropping downwards in a deep wedge shape along the West Pender Street façade. Reducing shadow impact to the surrounding public realm while maintaining height, the floorplates at the top of the building are scaled down,” the rationale continues.

Immediately across from this project site’s laneway is 1133 Melville Street office tower, which will be home to a new Vancouver office for Ernst & Young.

First pre-application phase conceptual design

Artistic rendering of the preliminary concept for 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

Second pre-application phase conceptual design

1166 West Pender Street Vancouver

New artistic rendering of 1166 West Pender Street, Vancouver. (Neil M Denari Architects / Hariri Pontarini Architects / IBI Group Architects / Reliance Properties)

See also

Kenneth ChanKenneth Chan

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