[raggedy13]

Hey all, I just felt like it has been awhile since we've had a good ol' fashioned poll going and now that we've got our own section, why not make more polls? They're always good for some lively discussion.

So, essentially I just chose a somewhat random list of highrises currently u/c (including multi-tower developments) from the top 25ish currently u/c according to the diagrams section. However, I did add Patina (YMCA) and Capitol to the list since I consider them effectively u/c due to the extensive demolition/site work currently going on, even if they haven't yet started the towers themselves. And I've excluded Shangri-La because I'm sure no one here would be surprised to see that as the most popular choice.

So, what do you like most and why do you like it more than the rest?

The Melville
http://www.lestwarog.com/melville/images/building.jpg
Flatiron
http://www.lestwarog.com/flatiron/images/buidling.jpg
Cielo
http://www.da-architects.ca/images_p/cur5a.jpg
Capitol Residences
http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-6.jpg
Woodwards
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/2368/buildingzt9.png
Elan
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/356313.jpg
Harbour Green II
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4584/376130ku4.jpg
Patina (YMCA)
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/10/untitledzl5.jpg
Fairmont Pacific Rim
http://www.lestwarog.com/admin/uploads/article/moreimages/1210.jpg
Bentall V
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1457/458745aw2.jpg
The Ritz
http://www.ibi-hb.com/images/p_ritz01_lg.jpg
Grace
http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/8360/3473256zp.jpg
Pomaria
http://www.lestwarog.com/pomaria/images/building.jpg
Spectrum
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1528/2430605jv.jpg

[raggedy13]

And here are some of them as they appear close to completion (some photos may be a bit old)...

Cielo
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7371.jpg

Spectrum
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7172.jpg

Bentall V
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7359.jpg

The Melville (thanks vanman)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/dsc008562.jpg

Elan (from lestwarog.com)
http://www.lestwarog.com/elan/images/building.jpg

[raggedy13]

For me, it's a close toss up between Woodwards and the Melville. I think Woodwards will be an amazing development when done but since it is so far from completion I give my vote to the Melville since I like how it has turned out so far (aside from the fact that I would've preferred a more reflective sail). The things I like about the Melville are that is varies from the typical Vancouver condos, the sail is a rather unique feature for the city, the real copper roof is a rare but welcoming touch these days, and the base is so far looking great with those wooden y-beams and the bamboo that they've planted between them.

[Coldrsx]

flatiron and grace...so diff from anything van.

[vanman]

For me, it's a close toss up between Woodwards and the Melville. I think Woodwards will be an amazing development when done but since it is so far from completion I give my vote to the Melville since I like how it has turned out so far (aside from the fact that I would've preferred a more reflective sail). The things I like about the Melville are that is varies from the typical Vancouver condos, the sail is a rather unique feature for the city, the real copper roof is a rare but welcoming touch these days, and the base is so far looking great with those wooden y-beams and the bamboo that they've planted between them.

I voted for Melville for the same reasons.

[gumgum]

Can't beat the design and materials on Grace.

[squeezied]

to be frank, i dont like much of the buildings. alota them are really bland and typical looking. and even the ones i do like have somthing about it that makes them... how should i put it... a lost cause? eg. the visibly black skeletal frame of melville's sail(unless its gonna be taken out), the typical condo width and height makes grace hidden by the surrounding bland condos, the height of bentall just adds to the increasingly flatness of the skyline, and etc.

but if i did had to vote for one, it probably be woodwards.

[mr.x]

Woodwards and the Melville

[skrish]

Flatiron. I really like this project.

[smasher000]

i voted melville but i think the W deserves an honorable mention

[Delirium]

i voted flatiron too. i'm really curious to see how it turns out especially because of its incredibly small floorplate.

not noted as a selection but a close second for me is the cbc redevelopment. i walk past the site everyday and i can't wait to see what that whole block will look like..

[shappy]

all are quite nice... I like Flatiron and Woodwards the best. Not a fan of the Melville.

[Rusty Gull]

I voted for Melville, but an honorable mention should go to Bentall 5, which I think has surpassed expectations -- and it looks great from street level, adding some vibrancy to the north Burrard Street neighbourhood. It also looks great from the Lions Gate Bridge.

[renthefinn]

I like Grace, then Woodwards, then Flatiron, then Mellville, but really I like those four all very much. I kinda like Capital as well, but I liked the earlier renderings better.

[raggedy13]

Based on the number of people who have so far said they like the Flatiron, I'm surprised it is only at 3 votes at the moment.

Delirium, I was about to add TV Towers/CBC development but for whatever reason I decided to cut the poll off at a nice round 15 choices, cuz I'm just like that. I should've added it though. It is probably the most worthy one to be added to this list that isn't already on it. I think it will actually be quite a bit nicer of a development than most people seem to give attention to. The current renderings of it leave a bit to the imagination but based on what they do show, they look like they will be considerably different from most anything we've seen yet in Vancouver, and of course the street level redevelopment and such should be quite a nice addition as well.

[David]

Grace is definitely the best, with a totally appropriate name: it is so graceful. It is the only building that I truly wish were taller.

[Canadian Mind]

Fairmont, Melville, Capitol, Grace, and Woodwards. The rest are just run of the mill towers to me.

[osirisboy]

flatiron and grace...so diff from anything van.

thats why i voted for bentall, so very different than anything in vancouver, its NOT another condo building.

[subdude]

I would have voted for Grace but it's still under wraps. I'm sure it will be stunning when finished though.

[gumgum]

Just out of curiosity, could someone post of rendering of Shangri-La? To see how it really stacks up?

[squeezied]

well because i think this thread is trying to steer away from the hype of shangri-la, i wont post any pics. however, i give u a link to the shangri-la thread: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=68265. from there u could find pics of it in progress and other relevant links. have fun!

[gumgum]

^Just wanted to know the reason why is was so explicitly excluded. Was is because it was too much of a contender? or was it too hyped? as you say.

[SunCoaster]

I'm voting for Patina (YMCA) - why? - because the architecture is fairly decent and more importantly @ 44 stories it brings some serious height to the part of Burrard around St. Paul's Hospital ... ya, ya, I know that the Wall Centre isn't that far away but, still I think it's a great addition to that part of Burrard.

[raggedy13]

^Just wanted to know the reason why is was so explicitly excluded. Was is because it was too much of a contender? or was it too hyped? as you say.

I excluded Shangri-La because I figured it would bury the rest of the towers as far as popularity goes, largely because it will be the tallest building in the city (definite bonus points) but also because it is quite a nice building in its own right. Plus there is so much talk about Shangri-La that I more or less get the idea how much people like it and what they think of it while with these somewhat lesser discussed buildings I am interested in knowing more about what people think.

[SFUVancouver]

While I like Woodwards, Flatiron, Pomaria (sky gardens!), the Melville's copper roof (that's all), and Bentall 5, I am really excited to see L'Hermitage come together. I like the model which shows it transition from brick to a stepped back multi-storey glazed portion and I am quite taken with the podium, which is much taller than we are used to.

[CC420]

Definately grace. I love the setbacks, the colours, the peaked roof, but I loathe it's short height.

[raggedy13]

So now that these developments have progressed since this poll was made, does anybody have a change from their original opinion?

I still like the Melville, but it's pretty much done now so I've kind of stopped thinking about it. It's a great addition to the skyline though, especially with the light feature on the sail.

I'm starting to get more excited about the Woodwards development. It's looking great so far and it's barely off the ground.

The Flatiron I'm pretty unsure about. The north face of the building (non-balconied face in the rendering) is looking pretty good at present as there is effectively no spandrel which is a nice change. The sides of the building not shown in the rendering however, look terrible to me from what I've seen - lots of spandrel and what looks kind of like frosted glass if my memory serves me correctly. It doesn't seem to relate to the north face of the building at all. I'll have to wait and see how it all comes together once finished.

And what's the deal with the Grace? Is it done yet? It seems like it's made little to no progress over the last year.

Bentall V is taking its sweet time as well. The last time I noticed it there were still some panes of glass to put it, but only the odd one. It's been like that for months though it seems.

[Canadian Mind]

Odd, I thought Bentall V was complete and functional.

current fav. is really a toss-up between Woodwards and the RC. Although if we are talking about general developments, I'm loving the Olympic village.

[vanman]

Where is Jameson?

[LeftCoaster]

Bentall V is essentially finished... The law firm Fasken Martineau is moving in from the waffle building starting this weekend. The move however will take them over a month becuase they occupy the top 5 floors, so they will not begin to occupy the space until a few weeks from now.

[phesto]

Anyone who voted for Flatiron needs to go and actually take a look at this thing. The Pender facade actually looks okay, but the other two sides look downright ugly. The exposed concrete columns work with the clear glass on the Pender side, but the glass on the other two sides looks really cheap and doesn't fit with the Pender facade at all.

When you're going Eastbound down Pender the white panels on the East facade looks completely out of place, almost creating a sense that you're looking at two seperate buildings attached by one exposed concrete core.

Say what you will about the flatiron look being dumbed down with square balconies, but this building is looking more and more like a failure in a number of different respects.

I'm not sure how this got approved.

I'll try to get a picture because my description does not do it justice.

[raggedy13]

Where is Jameson?

This is an old thread. The poll was started before any work had started at the Jameson House site.

Bentall V is essentially finished... The law firm Fasken Martineau is moving in from the waffle building starting this weekend. The move however will take them over a month becuase they occupy the top 5 floors, so they will not begin to occupy the space until a few weeks from now.

That's good to know. I admit the last time I really looked closely at Bentall V was maybe a month ago but up until that point it had some panels still missing and they'd been that way since before the summer with no visible progress being made. Perhaps they've been completely finished for the last few weeks though.