New renderings of the office tower "on stilts" in downtown Vancouver

Apr 24 2020, 11:28 pm

The new office tower planned for the southwest corner of the intersection of Robson Street and Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver has entered its marketing phase.

Dubbed The Seymour, the 215-ft-tall, 13-storey “boutique” office tower will be located on a tight 12,000-sq-ft lot at 809 Seymour Street (formerly 600 Robson Street), replacing a single-storey commercial building that used to be tenanted by Red Burrito, Simon’s Bike Shop, Vancity Weed, India Gate Restaurant, and Thai Cuisine Restaurant.

Marketing materials produced by commercial real estate broker Avison Young state the building appeals to businesses that want to follow the eastward shift of the core of the Central Business District, currently anchored by TELUS and soon Amazon.

Before:

600 Robson Street Vancouver

Site of 600 Robson Street, Vancouver. (Google Maps)

After:

809 Seymour Street 600 Robson Street Vancouver

2020 artistic rendering of The Seymour at 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Bonnis Development)

The Seymour, developed by Bonnis Development, offers 61,670 sq. ft. of office space, with “open and airy” floor plates ranging between 4,464 sq. ft. and 5,819 sq. ft, built to Class AAA office standards.

“Floor to ceiling windows paired with thoughtful floor plans provide an abundance of natural light,” reads the description.

“High ceilings, column free design, and natural ventilation make each office space flexible, efficient, and airy.”

809 Seymour Street 600 Robson Street Vancouver

2020 artistic rendering of The Seymour at 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Bonnis Development)

809 Seymour Street 600 Robson Street Vancouver

2020 artistic rendering of The Seymour at 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Bonnis Development)

Office workers will have access to three outdoor terraces, including a private gym on the fully covered terrace on the sixth level. Another large outdoor terrace is located on the second level, above 4,300 sq. ft. of ground-level retail space with Robson Street frontage.

Exposed structural columns on the facade, coupled with gaps on the second level and sixth level that act as amenity spaces, provides the building with a “stilt look.”

“The terrace created in the new building will afford the adjacent building with a visual connection to landscape, and will allow for views to be maintained for much of the space,” reads the design rationale by architectural firm Perkins + Will.

“In this way the terrace and gap in the massing acts as an extension of the outdoor space that already exists as a part of the adjacent building.”

809 Seymour Street 600 Robson Street Vancouver

2020 artistic rendering of The Seymour at 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Bonnis Development)

The developer has a partnership with the existing Capitol Residences tower, located immediately south of the property.

The blank northern wall of the 2011-built tower podium will be turned into a five-storey green wall.

As well, The Seymour’s three levels of underground parking with 52 vehicle parking stalls will be accessed from Seymour Street through a shared access agreement that uses the existing underground parking entrance of the Capitol Residences building. An interior parkade wall will be knocked out to open up access to the new tower’s parking levels.

The office lobby will be accessed from a new plaza located on the Seymour Street frontage.

809 Seymour Street 600 Robson Street Vancouver

2020 artistic rendering of The Seymour at 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Bonnis Development)

809 Seymour Street 600 Robson Street Vancouver

2020 artistic rendering of The Seymour at 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Bonnis Development)

Overall, the building will have a total floor area of 66,000 sq. ft., including a heritage density transfer, giving the project a floor space ratio density of 5.5 times the size of its lot.

Construction is expected to begin soon to meet a target completion date in 2022.

600 Robson Street Vancouver

2019 artistic rendering of 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will Architects / Bonnis Development)

600 Robson Street Vancouver

Layout of 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will Architects)

600 Robson Street Vancouver

Diagram of 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will Architects / Bonnis Development)

600 Robson Street Vancouver

Layout of 809 Seymour Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will Architects / Bonnis Development)

Kenneth ChanKenneth Chan

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