Empire Landmark Hotel now merely a stub in downtown Vancouver
From popular skyline vantage points outside of downtown Vancouver peninsula, all that now remains of the Empire Landmark Hotel is hidden within the concrete jungle of the West End.
See also
- Empire Landmark Hotel demolition now progressing quickly (TIMELAPSE)
- Empire Landmark Hotel tower to be demolished without any implosion
- Empire Landmark Hotel site deserves more than generic condo towers
- 39-storey tower with 'exoskeleton' exterior proposed for West End
- 300-ft-tall condo tower proposed for Robson Street in the West End
The 394-ft-tall, 42-storey tower has almost been completely erased from the city centre’s landscape. The expansive 1973-built, 410,000-sq-ft hotel property closed in the fall of 2017, and vertical demolition for the property’s redevelopment began in March 2018.
As of today, the tower has been reduced to less than 10 levels, and the podium has also been substantially demolished.
Demolition progress on May 17, 2019 of the Empire Landmark Hotel in Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)
Demolition progress on May 17, 2019 of the Empire Landmark Hotel in Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)
Timelapse video of the demolition of Empire Landmark Hotel up to date:
The tower’s demolition is of particular significance, as it is the tallest building to ever be demolished in the city.
As well, the drawn-out method chosen to tear down the structure is a more environmentally-friendly Brokk system of demolition, which is a remote controlled, state-of-the-art technology that crushes a building’s concrete from the top and works its way down, floor by floor. Dust and debris from this process is contained inside a mast scaffolding around the floor being worked on.
Empire Landmark Hotel from Robson Street, prior to the hotel’s closure. (Clive Hicks / Flickr)
Empire Landmark Hotel demolition in downtown Vancouver as of Sunday, December 16, 2017. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)
Asia Standard Americas (ASA), the subsidiary of a Hong Kong-based development company, acquired the hotel property several years ago.
The redevelopment, designed by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, will entail two residential towers at 28 and 30 storeys, respectively, reaching a maximum height of 300 ft – about 100 ft shorter than Empire Landmark.
It will include 241 upscale housing units, 84 social housing units, office space on the second and third floors, and retail along the streetfront of Robson. No replacement hotel is planned.
Artistic rendering of the planned residential development. (Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership)
Left – PDP London / Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership / Asia Standard International Group; Right – Clive Hicks / Flickr
The developer is aiming for a 2023 completion of the redevelopment.
ASA is also behind the redevelopment of the adjacent Robsonstrasse Hotel & Suites site into a new retail and office building.
See also
- Empire Landmark Hotel demolition now progressing quickly (TIMELAPSE)
- Empire Landmark Hotel tower to be demolished without any implosion
- Empire Landmark Hotel site deserves more than generic condo towers
- 39-storey tower with 'exoskeleton' exterior proposed for West End
- 300-ft-tall condo tower proposed for Robson Street in the West End