Amazon's first purpose-built office building in Vancouver nears completion (PHOTOS)
The smaller of the two new office buildings in downtown Vancouver currently being constructed for Amazon tenancy is now just months away from completion.
Oxford Properties’ new nine-storey building at 402 Dunsmuir Street will become the workplace for 1,000 office workers with Amazon, including a consolidated space for company employees scattered in temporary locations such as WeWork in Bentall Centre.
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The new 152,000-sq-ft office building is an expansion of the developer’s city-block-sized office complex at 401 West Georgia Street.
Amazon announced its tenancy in late 2017, and construction began soon after. With its black exterior frame, the design is bold, although at the same time it aims to provide a scale that respects and complements the adjacent historic Holy Rosary Cathedral.
Construction progress at 402 Dunsmuir Street in downtown Vancouver, as of January 28, 2020. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)
“Decidedly industrial in its design vernacular, the vision for the project is inspired by urban lofts and industrial conversions, which are commonplace in the city, yet the building will provide amenities and efficiencies that older retrofits simply cannot,” reads the design rationale by B+H Architects.
The new building, built on top of the existing office complex’s parkade entrance, includes extensive public realm improvements, including a central courtyard that links the new building with the existing tower. It will be an extension of the building lobbies to provide a seamless transition from interior and exterior spaces.
“Integrating and preserving existing cherry trees, the courtyard garden features terraced seating to transform it into an informal outdoor auditorium for special events or an area for respite,” continues the description.
Construction progress at 402 Dunsmuir Street in downtown Vancouver, as of January 28, 2020. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)
On the southern end of the property, at the northwest corner of the intersection of West Georgia Street and Homer Street, the existing plaza is in the process of being rebuilt with a design that improves and integrates the area with the new public realm being built.
The retail pavilion that was previously a BMO location is now being converted into a restaurant with a large outdoor patio.
Construction progress at 402 Dunsmuir Street in downtown Vancouver, as of January 28, 2020. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)
402 Dunsmuir Street is one of the buildings near the intersection of West Georgia Street and Homer Street that form an Amazon corporate office cluster in downtown Vancouver.
Amazon opened an office location at TELUS Garden in 2015, and it has leased 1.13 million sq. ft. of office space in the neighbouring Canada Post redevelopment just across from 402 Dunsmuir Street. There is enough space for over 10,000 office employees between the two buildings.
Elsewhere in downtown, Amazon has also leased 100,000 sq. ft. of office space within the recently completed The Exchange tower.
Construction progress at 402 Dunsmuir Street in downtown Vancouver, as of January 28, 2020. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)
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