Iconic community centre building planned for Lansdowne Centre redevelopment

Artistic rendering of the new community centre next to the Canada Line's Lansdowne Station as part of the Lansdowne District redevelopment. (Vanprop Investments Ltd.)

A semi-geodesic, gem-like design is planned for a key public amenity building at the massive redevelopment of Lansdowne Centre.

As part of the 50-acre redevelopment of its Richmond shopping centre property, Vanprop Investment Inc. is planning to build a landmark community centre at the southwest corner of the sprawling site – right next to the Canada Line’s Lansdowne Station.

The community centre serving the so-called Lansdowne District will have a 53,000 sq. ft. floor area, and it helps frame the new large civic plaza also planned for the redevelopment’s corner. Other buildings and uses that will frame the plaza include a 148-ft-tall office building, retail, and the station structure.

And of course, its design is placemaking and creates a sense of place for those arriving into Lansdowne District from SkyTrain.

Building height limitations and land usage at Lansdowne District, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Mall, in Richmond. (Vanprop Investments Ltd.)

Artistic rendering of Lansdowne District, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Mall, in Richmond. (Vanprop Investments Ltd.)

At the moment, the property owner is seeking a City approval of its master land use plan for the property, which will guide future rezoning.

The scale of this mixed-use project is almost unprecedented in the region; there will be four million sq. ft. of floor area within predominantly mid-rise buildings, with office and retail space – including a new T&T Supermarket – on the western side of the site and residential on the eastern side.

A total of 24 mid-rise towers, not including the lower level podiums, are envisioned for the site.

Thousands of residential spaces and employment positions will be generated by this neighbourhood-sized redevelopment.

Artistic rendering of Lansdowne District, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Mall, in Richmond. (Vanprop Investments Ltd.)

Land usage at Lansdowne District, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Mall, in Richmond. (Vanprop Investments Ltd.)

About 10% of the overall size of the property will be used as public spaces, such as a large five-acre public park and a strip of green space on the southern edge along Lansdowne Road.

Demolition of the 1977-built indoor mall is scheduled to begin in 2025, and its closure will be phased to allow existing businesses to gradually relocate to the new pedestrian-oriented high street retail spaces near the No. 3 Road end of the property.

Artistic rendering of Lansdowne District, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Mall, in Richmond. (Vanprop Investments Ltd.)

Lansdowne District is just one of a growing number of sizeable redevelopments proposed and planned for Richmond, and it is certainly the largest in the municipality to date.

To the south, a major redevelopment of CF Richmond Centre’s perimeter parking lots calls for 1,800 new homes and a mall expansion.

As well, a landmark office building that is part of a four-building, mixed-use redevelopment is also proposed for a site immediately adjacent to Richmond-Brighouse Station.

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