Revised design for landmark skyscraper proposed for BC Place Stadium
The design for a landmark tower on the southeast corner of BC Place Stadium has been modified in its latest iteration.
New renderings as part of the rezoning application to redevelop a 72,000 sq. ft., triangular-shaped vacant parcel used as a parking lot – wedged by BC Place, Pacific Boulevard, and the future West Georgia Street extension – show a 400-ft-tall design with 40 storeys.
This represents a height reduction of three storeys from the original proposal.
Current
Future
Current policies allow towers of up to 300 ft in height, but the recently approved Northeast False Creek Plan will increase the allowance to 425 feet for three redevelopment sites immediately adjacent to the future intersection of Pacific Boulevard and West Georgia Street.
Revised 2018 design
Original 2017 design
“The new intersection will mark the meeting of city and water, and the urban connection of Vancouver’s prime ceremonial street with Pacific Boulevard, False Creek, and neighbourhoods to the east,” reads the plan. “It will be a focal point of the regionally significant events and entertainment district at the juncture of the two stadiums.”
“This height would punctuate the skyline without exceeding the line of the mountains as viewed from the Cambie Street viewpoint origin.”
There are also changes to the design of the three-storey commercial podium, where there will be about 72,000 sq. ft. of space for restaurants and retail.
A cavity space in the podium formed by the supports of the tower has been redesigned to allow for more retail street frontage and better flow of the ingress and egress of crowds attending events in the area. Renderings show there could be a significant First Nations art piece within an area of this cavity.
Revised 2018 design
Original 2017 design
Within the upper levels, the proposal calls for 389 residential units, with the unit mix consisting of 236 studio units, 11 one-bedroom units, 103 two-bedroom units, and 39 three-bedroom units. It is unclear whether these will be sold or for rental like the Rogers Arena towers.
Additional cavity spaces are found within various levels of the residential levels and act as covered outdoor amenity spaces, in addition to a children’s play area on the podium rooftop and the tower’s rooftop garden.
The overall design of the tower remains unchanged. It has sweeping curves and a striking white envelope that seemingly blends in and complements BC Place’s iconic white roof structure. A portion of the residential facade has a complex pattern of protruding boxes.
Overall, the proposal calls for 350,000 sq. ft. of floor area for a floor space ratio (FSR) density of 4.88 FSR.
This project, designed by Stantec Architecture, is being pushed forward by provincial crown corporation Pavco, which owns the lot. Redevelopments of BC Place’s two adjacent empty parcels will help pay for the $565-million cost of renovating the stadium earlier in the decade. The other larger lot on the western end of the stadium next to the Cambie Street Bridge has since been redeveloped with Parq Vancouver casino resort.
Further major renovations could be made to the stadium over the coming years. Renderings of the tower also show a possible concept for a new ground-level grand entrance into the stadium at Gate D and aesthetic upgrades to the stadium’s facade along Pacific Boulevard to enhance Northeast False Creek’s new designation as an entertainment district.
See also
- 43-storey 'landmark' tower proposed for BC Place Stadium
- City Council approves viaducts demolition and Northeast False Creek Plan
- First glimpse of the Hogan's Alley redevelopment that will replace the Vancouver viaducts
- This is what will replace the Vancouver viaducts at Main Street
- Plaza of Nations redevelopment will give Vancouver a real entertainment district
- Vancouver releases plans for new 11-acre Northeast False Creek park
- Fly-through animation of Vancouver's new Northeast False Creek design (VIDEO)
- New Vancouver Canucks practice arena planned for Northeast False Creek