[mr.x]

Vancouver's second tallest tower after Shangri-La: Ritz Carlton


On June 8, 2005 the City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel unanimously approved the development of the new design - the city's newest and second tallest skyscraper, 1153 West Georgia. To be located on Vancouver's West Georgia Street in the Central Business District, this slim, triangular, elegant 183-metre/600 foot tower rotates 45 degrees between its base and its roof.

1133 West Georgia will be a mixed-use building, consisting of a 5-star, 200 room hotel (Ritz Carlton Vancouver) and high-end residential units. The recreational and spa amenities will be accessed by both hotel and residential users. Beginning at level 7 there will be 18 levels of hotel units. Level 25 contains mechanical equipment. Beyond level 25, all floors contain residential suites, primarily one and two bedroom units ranging from 500 to 1000 square feet, with larger suites on the upper floors. The top two floors contain two-storey penthouse suites that, in addition to open balconies, will enjoy very large green private terraces on the roof level. Balconies and roof terraces are defined and protected by horizontal and vertical extensions of the curtain wall glazing of the tower.

1133 West Georgia is designed by a collaboration of Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, Davidson Yuen Simpson Architects and Arthur Erickson, design consultant.

Construction will commence in mid-2007 and will end in early-2010, with most of the structure ready for the 2010 Olympics.


- June 7, 2005: Arthur Erickson, working with architects MCMP, designs a slim, triangular shaped glass tower which appears to twist 45 degrees from bottom to top, calling it "hyperbolic paraboloids".
- June 8, 2005: New "twisted" redesign unanimously approved by UDP as 'stunning, evocative, and beautiful, complementing Living Shangri-La' across the street. Application for rezoning from DD to CD-1 reviewed.
- Similar in design to Sweden's HSB Turning Torso.
- Features a 5-star, 200 room hotel and high-end residential units with the top floors containing two-storey penthouse suites.
- From level 7 there are 18 levels of hotel units.
- Level 25 is a mechanical equipment floor, followed by residential units all the way to the top.
- Construction will commence in early 2006.
- Solar tubes on the roof help cut the building's power demands by up to 30 per cent.
- The 'palm court' public plaza is lit at night by fibre-optic lights embedded in the pavement.
- The costly design went through its sixth and final revision - window mullions and structure - during late June 2006.
- In July 2006 the Ritz-Carlton hotel chain was expected to announce its participation in the project.
- Height is 584 feet to top of uppermost floor and 600 feet to the the tip of the architectural highlight mechanical penthouse.
- The 51 enclosed balconies amount to 6,265 sq. ft.
- Ritz Carlton will be the operator of the hotel.


FINAL DESIGN
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5519/ritzcarltontowerrenderbbh5.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/ritz1.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/ritz2.jpg

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8403/ritzuq0.png



PREVIOUS DESIGNS:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/provisore/1133WestGeorgia1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/provisore/1133WestGeorgia2.jpg

http://www.dysarch.com/UserImages/WebImages/ProjectImages/1.%20RESIDENTIAL/Market%20High%20Rise/1133%20West%20Georgia/1133-West-Georgia-Drawing.jpg







http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Misc/3.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7122/1153rw1.png
Tallest tower: Shangri-La Vancouver - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=312368
Second tallest tower: Ritz Carlton Vancouver - future website: http://www.ritzcarltonvancouver.com









--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The site of Ritz Carlton is an unfinished skeleton of a building, one of Vancouver's worst eyesores:
http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/09/488729.jpg


The original nine-storey office building was built sometime in the 1960’s. In 1994, permits were issued to strip the existing office building of its exterior walls and interior finishes and to change the use of floors one through six from office use to a fitness club known as the “Newport Beach Club”. After work began, for unknown reasons, construction was suspended, with cranes, tarps, railings, etc left intact. After a while the permits expired. The site would sit as a vacant and derelict building for many years.

However, in the last few weeks, preparation work for demolition has begun to make way for the new helical tower:

http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/3678/4702111602ebfdf03a9boc8.jpg

Main elevator lobby:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8209/146734266d43012ffb2bix5.jpg

Lobby, looking Southeast:
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6626/1470916972364104ee7bfy8.jpg

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/8505/10033765107b41ecf09bty8.jpg

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/6930/top12gu0.jpg

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/4368/247700926c4f70febecbft6.jpg

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/2568/247701183e8b2726762bht7.jpg








April 26, 2007: Preparation work for demolition finally begins:

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/9026/4732857614a8e34a99ebbr2.jpg

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/1570/473270264377b3db44ebfw7.jpg

[osirisboy]

i drove by the site yesterday and they were taking down the sign along georgia street. dont know why but im sure they'll be putting something back up.

[raggedy13]

I drove by it yesterday and demolition is almost done of the existing building. The main core of the building appears to have been demolished to grade (or at least to ground floor - can't see as it's below the fencing either way). The parts nearest to the Terasen Centre are still about 2 storeys though.

[mr.x]

late-May 2007
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/514398006_d1d6cb0d9e_b.jpg




late-August 2007 (Flickr)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1421/1251547844_411256c06d_o.jpg





Early-September 2007 (Flickr)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1293/1343521349_ecaf82d40a.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1325/1344411792_310973698d.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1270/1343521701_409a136e8b.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/1344411610_56d54a29fc.jpg?v=0

[Canadian Mind]

that was a real quick demo... i'm dissapointed we didn't get another implosion though. :(

[giallo]

That was quick. I thought it would have taken longer.

[Mininari]

Yeah, what was all that about the building being seismically upgraded and would make the demolition take longer, and be more expensive. Geez, they just tore it down.

What about demolishing the existing underground parking? That could take a while...

[davee930]

ritz pleeease come to calgary!

[mr.x]

ritz pleeease come to calgary!

don't be greedy, you have encana.

[smasher000]

don't be greedy, you have encana.


LOL.. now that ur a moderator, you coulda said

"don't be greedy, you have encana; one week ban.
.

[squeezied]

lol, mr.x2, how did u become moderator?

[mr.x]

lol, mr.x2, how did u become moderator?

bribed the admins. why do you think SSP can afford a Vancouver forum?:shrug: it's costing them a fortune!


i've been a mod for Skyscrapercity for more than a year now, and when SSP created Local Vancouver i was like "why not?"

[towerguy3]

How many Parking levels do they have to jackhammer down to get to rock level? Will they be able to use these Parking levels in the new tower or does the size require a complete gutting of what's there?

[thefly]

How many Parking levels do they have to jackhammer down to get to rock level? Will they be able to use these Parking levels in the new tower or does the size require a complete gutting of what's there?

They are completely gutting - expected to complete Feb/March

[Cypherus]

When might we see the building top-out? Fall 2010?

[mr.x]

When might we see the building top-out? Fall 2010?

Unfortunately, yes.....if only they could finish it in time for 2010.....maybe we'll be lucky?

[SFUVancouver]

^ On the other hand, the Ritz-Carlton will still be climbing skywards with maybe 25-30 storeys completed during the Olympics, and that naturally will beg the question among passersby of "how high will this one go?".

By virtue of it being the tallest building in the city I am guessing that the inevitable flotilla news helicopters will focus on the Shangri-La as the orbit downtown getting stock footage. Virtually any airborne shot of the Shangri-La will show off the climbing, twisting Ritz-Carlton. It'll make some good tv.

[Canadian Mind]

I'm a bit more optimistic for the 40 storey range. If they complete demo work in feb 2008, the hole digging and foundation-pouring process shouldn't take more than a year-year and a half if other buildings in the city are to serve as an example. that would put the start of ground level construction at the latest august of 2009, which provides 24 weeks for construction (discounting statutory holidays). So thats the absolute minimum. If the more liberal guess of one year for foundation and parkade work is correct, than potentially we could see 50 weeks for construction, which at the pace of Shangri-la would put the building at 50 storeys, only 8 short of completion.

Hence why I say 35-40. It's in the middle of the two extremes of my guesswork... besides, not much of the twist will be visible at only 25 storeys, hell, even at the full 58 it still hardly appears to twist. would look much better if it were a 60 or even 90 degree turn IMO.

[excel]

i drove by the site yesterday and they were taking down the sign along georgia street. dont know why but im sure they'll be putting something back up.

Drove by today and saw a guy putting the banners back up and cleaning them. Dont know why they took them down, but clearly some reason behind it.

[mr.x]

Pictures taken by look@round from SSC:


Demolition pictures from today.

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/918/img1998uw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1847/img1991vp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Delirium]

the latest ritz carlton ad:
http://cdn.travidia.com/rop-ad/5062091

[excel]

Nice looking ad. I thought originally the starting price was 1.4 million, now it says 2.25? A million more is quite substantial.

[mr.x]

Nice looking ad. I thought originally the starting price was 1.4 million, now it says 2.25? A million more is quite substantial.

i'm even more surprised by the cost of building these towers. $500 million for the Ritz Carlton and $400 million for The Residences/The Georgia.

[Canadian Mind]

What is Shangri-la supposed to cost anyways? surely the prices are comparable.

[mr.x]

More pictures by look@round, taken today in the back alley. Gives you a great perspective that there's still some more demolition to be done:


http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8511/img2028ix7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/7859/img2029vz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8682/img2031ep8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[nathan6969]

I wonder what the wall of terasen up against it looks like, never having seen the light of day...

[Canadian Mind]

we'll see in a few days I suspect.

Actually... how do builders work around the fact that occasionally buildings are a foot apart when putting up a facade? is it just a concrete wall when it is up against another building, or does some poor bloke actually squeeze himself in there?

[nathan6969]

It prolly is just a concrete wall, cuz I don't think there even a foot apart, and that concrete shell was there when they built terasen. It'll be interesting to see how well ritz integrates with the buildings on either side of it.

[WhipperSnapper]

unbelievable how long it is taking to remove a 9 storey concrete shell

[Canadian Mind]

Its only been about a month so far dude. 7 stories in 5 weeks isn't all that bad for what appears to be a 4 man crew.

[raggedy13]

^Sadly it's been more than a month... I have pics of the scaffolding up on site from May.

[Canadian Mind]

was it? o.O

I know scaffolding was up since before I went to camp, but I didn't notice actual demolition had begun until the day before my trip (Aug. 22)

[1ajs]

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/7859/img2029vz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



:slob:

[raggedy13]

was it? o.O

I know scaffolding was up since before I went to camp, but I didn't notice actual demolition had begun until the day before my trip (Aug. 22)

I think you're quite right that it took awhile before demolition began but I'm pretty sure it started earlier than August... but I really have no idea. Maybe I have a picture of actual demo before then but I'll have to check later (too tired right now - plus, does it really matter?). Anyways, either way I think demolition went at a decent pace considering the method utilized (ie not imploding). Hopefully it won't take too long for the underground parking to be taken apart. It would be nice to see actual construction early as possible.

I think it should be pretty high (if not topped out) by the time the Olympics roll around. It might make sense to take into consideration that the floor plate on this building is quite a bit smaller than the typical 'tall' building in the city. This might allow for a quicker construction time. :shrug:

[1ajs]

I think you're quite right that it took awhile before demolition began but I'm pretty sure it started earlier than August... but I really have no idea. Maybe I have a picture of actual demo before then but I'll have to check later (too tired right now - plus, does it really matter?). Anyways, either way I think demolition went at a decent pace considering the method utilized (ie not imploding). Hopefully it won't take too long for the underground parking to be taken apart. It would be nice to see actual construction early as possible.

I think it should be pretty high (if not topped out) by the time the Olympics roll around. It might make sense to take into consideration that the floor plate on this building is quite a bit smaller than they typical 'tall' building in the city. This might allow for a quicker construction time. :shrug:

lol that might be true but... what about this twist thats guna take extra time to make sure they fallow it corectly no?

[WhipperSnapper]

7 stories in 5 weeks isn't all that bad for what appears to be a 4 man crew.


I have to disagree even for a 4 man crew. Hopefully, the GC for the tower construction is a little more time constraint

[ScottFromCalgary]

Once the facade was removed and demolition started in earnest, the York Hotel at The Bow site was gone in a few weeks. I think it was about 7 stories.

Will the Ritz be done before the Olympics?

[mr.x]

Once the facade was removed and demolition started in earnest, the York Hotel at The Bow site was gone in a few weeks. I think it was about 7 stories.

Will the Ritz be done before the Olympics?

nope, it'll be done in the fall of 2010.....but approx. 40 of the 58 storeys should be done in time the fireworks go off at BC Place.

[deasine]

^are they going to open the Ritz Hotel first and then continue construction on top of it like Bentall (is that office tower that has Bell on Burrard))?!!!!!!! That would be nice actually...

But then there is no way the construction on top of a tower will not interupt the bottom...

[Mike K.]

Those demolition shots on the first page with Shangri-La in the background...amazing!

[jlousa]

The date I've heard for the Ritz project is actually 2011, same as the residence at Georgia. The hotel will not be open until the project is completed, The Ritz is pretty upscale and you wouldn't want their guest walking through a construction zone.

[entheosfog]

Once the facade was removed and demolition started in earnest, the York Hotel at The Bow site was gone in a few weeks. I think it was about 7 stories.



But the Bow excavation is under an intense deadline to get 6th ave open up again.

[deasine]

The date I've heard for the Ritz project is actually 2011, same as the residence at Georgia. The hotel will not be open until the project is completed, The Ritz is pretty upscale and you wouldn't want their guest walking through a construction zone.

yeah that's exactly the case... I remember those documentaries on National Geographic about the Ritz Hotel in France. What a beauty!

omg whenever I place posts... it turns out a lot slower on the forum... then my questions get answered making me look like an idiot to ask again....

[SFUVancouver]

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3117/ritzcarltondemolitionanpi0.jpg
The old Shell Building is nearly gone.

Preparing the pit to begin construction of several levels of underground parking and mechanicals may take a little longer than usual because the Ritz-Carlton will use a ground-source heat exchange system. This will provide the tower with heating and cooling but will require the drilling of a couple hundred bore holes for the heatpipes.

[vanman]

^ Oh no, remember how long it took Cielo to rise above street level.

[towerguy3]

How many underground levels and how deep below street level will the footings be? Shangri-La's footings were 91 feet down.

And no I didn't hear that from some guy in orange coveralls

[Canadian Mind]

How many underground levels and how deep below street level will the footings be? Shangri-La's footings were 91 feet down.

And no I didn't hear that from some guy in orange coveralls

Thats the kinda ifo I'd expect a guy in orange coveralls to accurately know. o.O

Just playing with ya buddy, cheers! :cheers:

I would hpe the footings for this tower are at least 80 feet down. thats 600 feet of structure and in needs to be reasonably stable for earthquakes.

[towerguy3]

Will the rock they run into be of a volcanic / precambrian origin like they ran into with Shangri-La and therefore have to do some blasting? No doubt we could expect the same type of deep down rock on either side of W. Georgia? It is virgin untouched ground.

I assume they'll be doing some pre drilling to find out the consistency of the rock under Ritz, but apparantly at Shangri-La running into volcanic rock was a bit of a surprise to the excavators.

I remember one big chunk right under the church that they were messing with. It looked stubborn. It was like the rock was saying to the blasters "how dare you unearth me after 10,000 years"!

Are the two building on either side or the residential towers behind designed to withsttand blasts? Unlike Shangri-La other than the church which was braced, blasting at Ritz may present some challenges

[jlousa]

Blasting rock does not effect neighbouring buildings, the rock is drilled into and the charge placed inside, the only effect is possible flying debris and they sheild against that. They only blast large unmoveable rocks, most are able to be excavated or broken down via drilling.

[mr.x]

Blasting rock does not effect neighbouring buildings, the rock is drilled into and the charge placed inside, the only effect is possible flying debris and they sheild against that. They only blast large unmoveable rocks, most are able to be excavated or broken down via drilling.

Damage by flying debris is quite a low risk. They used 5,000 kg tire mats to cover the explosives for the Canada Line blasting. Instead of a dramatic explosion, all you could hear was a soft "whoosh".

[mr.x]

updates by look@round from SSC:

Yesterday:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7186/img3066fd7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ritz Carlton & Shangri-La:

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/760/img3068pp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[bils]

i spoke with one of the realtors yesterday. she reports that approx 50% of units have been sold. surprisingly, a large percentage of buyers are local. there have been inquiries from prospective buyers about buying two penthouses and joining them (in excess of 14,000sqft).

[jlousa]

The 2 of the 3 penthouses are already sold, and they have sold closer to 70% of the units. ;)

[MolsonExport]

That is one heck of a nice tower for Vancouver.

[nathan6969]

Anyone else register for this with Rennie, got an invitation to some reception their holding next week, but the invitation was printed on this lucite tile, it looks like an oversized coaster with a big picture of Arthur Erikson, kind of a different marketing idea...

[tradlak]

Could someone please explain how to post a jpeg image here. Thanks

[deasine]

Could someone please explain how to post a jpeg image here. Thanks

u need to find your own image hosting... then use their links and press the picture icon OR type <img></img> (replace <> with []).

[vanhattan]

Anyone else register for this with Rennie, got an invitation to some reception their holding next week, but the invitation was printed on this lucite tile, it looks like an oversized coaster with a big picture of Arthur Erikson, kind of a different marketing idea...
Yes, I got mine today. Different like you said. I am surprised and then not at all that they reportedly sold 70% already like jlousa claims. I am going to try to go to the event posted on the lucite "coaster" just for fun. See you there?:yes:
I have not seen the inside plans, but if I had the money I probably would buy there. Guess I need to play the lotto this weekend!

[nathan6969]

^^Although I am enticed by the "complimentary valet parking" I don't if I'm gonna make it to this one, but do let us know how it goes...

[mr.x]

by skymaster
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/1859610029_0e2682e1f7_o.jpg

[Hed Kandi]

Ritz-Carlton homes will rise 60 floors above Georgia Street, start at $1.5 million
Michael Sasges

Sun

Saturday, November, 10, 2007

http://www.lestwarog.com/admin/uploads/article/moreimages/3014.jpg


THE RESIDENCES AT THE RITZ-CARLTON

Location: West Georgia Street, Vancouver

Project size: 123 apartments, floors 27 -- 60, 60-floor building

Residence size: 1 bed, 1 bath, 926 sq. ft. -- 3 bedrooms, 3 bath +powder, 4,145 sq. ft. Penthouse #1

Prices: floors 27 -- 41, $1.5 million -- $3.2 million; floors 42 -- 53, $3 million -- $6.2 million; floors 54 -- 58, $6.8 million -- $9.2 million; penthouses, from $10.3 million

Sales centre: Thurlow at Georgia, Vancouver

Hours: Noon -- 5 p.m., Sat -- Thu

Telephone: 604-689-8881

E-mail: sales@vancouversturn.com

Web: vancouversturn.com

Developer: Holborn Group

Architecture: Arthur Erickson, with Musson Cattel Mackey and dysarchitecture

Interiors: mcfarlaneGreen&biggar

Occupancy: 2011

To locate the Ritz-Carlton new-home project at 1151 West Georgia is to locate it absolutely, but not relatively and, therefore, not completely.

For example, the homes will be located above a hotel, only the second new Ritz-Carlton in Canada. The other is under construction in Toronto.

For example, homes and suites will be located one block west of the last Georgia Street design from Arthur Erickson, the two-tower MacMillan Bloedel building. It was designed in the 1960s, in collaboration with Geoff Massey, and erected in the '70s.

Further, homes and suites will be located at a figurative intersection of corporate need and personal want.

"You will not see a five-star hotel built in North America without condos above it," comments Bob Rennie, organizer of the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton sales and marketing campaign.

"The cost of providing the services and the security and building out those rooms, given today's room rates, is not sustainable for the hotel. So they build the condos and they take the profit from the condos to buy down the hotel, so that they can have a sustainable five-star climate. It's just a fact."

The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton is the fifth homes-over-a-hotel project in downtown Vancouver that Rennie has prepared for market.

The first was One Wall Centre, on Hornby at Nelson. There, the Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel occupies 30 lower floors and apartments occupy 18 upper floors. One Wall Centre was completed in 2001.

Living Shangri-La, L'Hermitage En Ville and Estates at The Fairmont Pacific Rim are under construction.

"That's the business model," Rennie says of the role of real-estate sales in the construction of grand hotels.

". . . then you've got the lifestyle model and that is, you've got high net-worth individuals wanting to go into a condominium, but not just any condominium.

"Everyone of them has said, at the edge of the bed, as they're picking up their carry-on baggage to leave a five-star hotel, 'I could live like this the rest of my life.' And now you can. It's as simple as that. You've got room service; you've got housekeeping. You've got valet parking; you will never see a parking stall again. It's all there if you want to use it. For 'senior wealth' it just doesn't get better."

The introduction of one of the "big brands" to a city can say any number of things to the locals, good and bad. About Vancouver, Rennie says, the brands arriving here are saying: "We're a big boy now.

"As locals, we're always going, 'it's a bubble, it can't last, we can't take it.'

"But foreign eyes look at our city completely differently.

"Think of it this way: the kid's grown up. He's moved out of the house. And parents never give their kids full credit for their 'value' when they go off and set their lives. That's what's happened to Vancouver."

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. is a Marriott International company and employs 32,000 people at 66 hotels and 12 sales offices around the world.

It is a 25-year-old American-based company that was created to purchase The Ritz-Carlton, Boston and the rights to the name Ritz-Carlton.

The "flags" -- like Ritz Carlton -- and those able to afford a home above one of their hotels inevitably challenge local architects, engineers, interior designers, builders and developers to re-examine what is acceptable in a new home.

"You have to protect the brand with other brands," Rennie says.

European brands will dominate Residences kitchens and bathroom: Miele will supply most of the appliances; Dornbracht, the faucets; and Duravit Starck, the toilets.

Bulthaup is probably the brand name that best exemplifies the pursuit of brand-name exclusivity at the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton.

Bulthaup is a 50-year-old German company, a manufacturer of kitchens and only kitchens. It has only one Canadian dealer, located in Toronto.

Those who know the company's work could be impressed with it for any number of reasons.

These might range from its start in a country shattered by war and occupation by foreign armies to its more recent domination of international design competitions.

Those who know local new-home-project design will be impressed by the Bulthaup cabinet doors the Residences developer and interior designer have specified. Two of them will be faced with wood veneers and the third finished in lacquer.

Laminates that approximate real woods are the usual facing applied to new-home-project cabinet doors locally.

"It may be unusual in multi-family locally, but it's an expectation at four million dollars," Rennie comments.

An Italian cabinet-maker, Poliform, will supply the bedroom storage. Poliform is probably better known than Bulthaup in these parts because it has a dealer here: Inform Interiors in Gastown.

The ultimate brand name associated with the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton is local -- Arthur Erickson. Is there a more exclusive declaration locally than "I live in an Arthur Erickson"?

As the Residences developer, Simon Lim said, when asked why he commissioned the storied architect: "Why Arthur? Who else is there?"

Exclusivity, actual or apprehended, is never cheap. A Residences home will be a home in the most expensive address in Canada, Rennie says, a superlative enjoyed by the Estates at The Fairmont alone until now.

All of the Residences homes have seven-figure asking prices associated with them. "Go ahead, ask me, what does a million dollars get you?" Rennie jokes in acknowledgement of the listing prices. " . . . a deposit on something cute."

HOW A TALL BUILDING DOWNTOWN IS A TALL ORDER AT CITY HALL

So, you want to put up a tall building in downtown Vancouver? Here are some things for you to consider, from the 1151, formerly 1133, West Georgia file on city hall's website.

First, you will want to develop a working knowledge of germane "council policy" or hire those poor souls whose life work is consumed by reading and analysing texts where important references are flagged by an irritating reliance on capitalization.

Last year, these policy documents included, and at least: "Downtown District Official Development Plan (DODP) as amended to November, 2003;" "Central Area Plan: Goals and Land Use Policy, adopted Dec. 3, 1991;" "Central Business District Policies as amended to Feb. 7, 1997;" "General Policy for Higher Buildings, approved May 6, 1997 . . .;" "View Protection Guidelines, approved in December, 1989 and last amended Dec. 11, 1990;" "Downtown (Except Downtown South) Design Guidelines as amended to Dec. 14, 1993;" "DD (Except Downtown South), C-5, C-6, HA-1 and HA-2 Character Area Descriptions, as amended to Dec. 4, 2003 . . . ;" "West Georgia Street Tree and Sidewalk Design Guidelines . . . ;" "Public Art Policies and Guidelines as amended to Nov. 22, 1994;" and "Financing Growth (Community Amenity Contribution) Policy as amended to June 24, 2003."

Second, you will want to demonstrate purity of goals and means. The "Higher Buildings" policy alone expects your building . . .

- "should respect all view corridors adopted by council;

- "should be on one of the downtown's three primary streets;

- "should exhibit the highest order of architectural excellence;

- "should achieve community benefits such as . . . a significant cultural or social facility or low-cost housing,

- "should include activities and uses of community significance [like] a public observation deck . . . ;

- "should provide on-site open space which significantly adds to downtown green and plaza spaces, and

- "should not contribute to adverse microclimate effects."

The three primary streets downtown are Burrard, Granville and Georgia.

Other "facts" about downtown Vancouver that only a planners or architects would know, from the 1151, formerly 1133, West Georgia file:

- Downtown blocks are long: (" . . . a mid-block space on Vancouver's long blocks is important . . . .")

- Downtown buses are only selectively imposing:

(" . . . five-star hotels typically would not have transit buses idling out front . . . .")

A "fact of life," all vocations, all avocations, is also found in the file:

" . . . thanked the panel for the thoughtful inspirations, and acknowledged varying comments presented; the importance of details . . . ."

© The Vancouver Sun 2007

[djh]

by skymaster
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2328/1859610029_0e2682e1f7_o.jpg

NO VIEWS!

If you're on any of the hotel floors you'll have no view to the North (towers across alley), no view to the East (adjacent tower on block), little view to the South (Shangri-La is directly across the street) and no view to the West (adjacent tower on the block). I hope the people on the higher floors get to see above all of those nearby towers.

[officedweller]

The same pretty much goes for Shangri-La too (moreso when the Bentall office tower goes up on the SportMart site). The Ritz-Carlton will have some view to the south over the Shangri-La podium (into the Carmana Tower).
If the Amacon office tower goes ahead on Melville - that'll be bad for the condo oweners too - you can see the site poking between buildings at the top of the pic.
The townhouse owners at Orca Place will have something better to look at.

[Lee_Haber8]

NO VIEWS!

If you're on any of the hotel floors you'll have no view to the North (towers across alley), no view to the East (adjacent tower on block), little view to the South (Shangri-La is directly across the street) and no view to the West (adjacent tower on the block). I hope the people on the higher floors get to see above all of those nearby towers.

At least they get a great view of a vibrant urban landscape, something people from Winnipeg don't have :D

[nathan6969]

Looks like the party tomorrow night is gonna be big, drove by the sales centre today, and they were setting up tents outside, and they'd taken down a lot of that blue covering over the windows.

[jlousa]

If you have an invite you might want to check it out. ;)

[jlousa]

The event last night was really busy, a great turnout. A little too good, the firecheif visited and left very upset with the amount of people there. Anyways I couldn't say earlier but I did hint to show up, Diana Krall was there, she only ending up playing for about 20 minutes though, the crowd was too noisy chattering and I think she got upset about that. The speech by Mark from the Ritz-Carlton chain was very impressive as well. Not to mention the free Don Perignon and catering by Joe Fortes. :)

[MolsonExport]

Great building for Vancouver. Finally, some decent height in the city!

[nathan6969]

The event last night was really busy, a great turnout. A little too good, the firecheif visited and left very upset with the amount of people there. Anyways I couldn't say earlier but I did hint to show up, Diana Krall was there, she only ending up playing for about 20 minutes though, the crowd was too noisy chattering and I think she got upset about that. The speech by Mark from the Ritz-Carlton chain was very impressive as well. Not to mention the free Don Perignon and catering by Joe Fortes. :)

Serious...I can't believe I skipped all that, I just expected a few people looking at some floorplans and a model.

[LeftCoaster]

heres a pic of Ritz I dont think has been uploaded yet... nothing new just a night version of what we have already seen.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/ArtistRendering6.jpg

Looks like there might be some night effect at the crown, although I sure hope they have a little more instore than that. Shangri-La is also noticable absent from the right hand side of the pic.

[djh]

When the Shangri-La was at development permit stage the developers had to offer up soeme mighty huge appeasements to the city to allow the height and massing they wanted. As I remember it, they had to restore the church next door and plant a huge number of trees locally.

Since the Ritz-Carlton is nearly the same height as Shangri-La, what was the gift that they gave to the city to allow their building? I remember there was talk of a public observation tower, but that got killed long ago. So what do we get?

[androo3]

I like how they leave out the Shangri La in those pictures. Nice

[bbeliko]

By far the best project in downtown

[djh]

When the Shangri-La was at development permit stage the developers had to offer up soeme mighty huge appeasements to the city to allow the height and massing they wanted. As I remember it, they had to restore the church next door and plant a huge number of trees locally.

Since the Ritz-Carlton is nearly the same height as Shangri-La, what was the gift that they gave to the city to allow their building? I remember there was talk of a public observation tower, but that got killed long ago. So what do we get?

^bump

[98fb]

this blows away shangra la.


I agree best towner in Van to date. This will be a beauty, just wish it was taller. LOVE IT. Finally a great tower in Van.

[officedweller]

^bump

I can't recall - was the density for the site transferred from the Woodward's project? If it was, that probably means no "perk" was required to be granted to the City for a "gift" of extra density.

The higher building guidelines require architectural excellence, which this clearly satisfies.

[Canadian Mind]

Wouldn't Woodwards have needed it's own density bonus?

[jlousa]

Woodwards didn't need any bonus transfers as they didn't use up all the density allotted to them. They did overstep the height limit on tower W-43 by 6ft but they left some density on the table to transfer to another site in the future.

[officedweller]

Dug up the rezoning reports for 1133.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20050915/documents/PH3complete.pdf

The original 2005 rezoning contemplated an enclosed Palm Court as a public amenity along with a mid-block connection past the federal office building across the alley. City staff subsequently decided that the Palm Court would cost too much to program and maintain so it was converted to hotel function space.

A rezoning amendment dated 2006 indicates that Holborn provided amenity benefits to the City worth $12.5M.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20061212/documents/ph4.pdf

Remember that a lot of the Shangri-La amenity items were due to Westbank's desire to do so.

[Hed Kandi]

Ritz-Carlton brings world-class status
Starting at $2.4 M, these suites not for 'tire-kickers'
Kerry Moore

Province

Sunday, November, 25, 2007



"Luxury living like this only works in major cities where there are the busy, luxury-oriented travellers. And in Canada, that would be Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary.

"And, yes, the executive and the business traveller now sees Vancouver as a world-class city," says Bob Rennie, CEO for Rennie Marketing Systems.

He is talking about the Residences at The Ritz-Carlton, Vancouver, where the target buyer isn't a tire-kicker but someone who has enjoyed staying in luxury hotels and who, when sitting on the bed packing up, says: "I could live like this forever."

"This" is bred by familiarity with and preference for very high-end furnishings and services.

"The buyers want availability."

Residents will have access to all the five-star hotel's amenities, including having their car brought to the door. "They may never see the parking garage," Rennie says. Buyers can use the concierge, the valet parking, spa, housekeeping, and have meals brought up from the hotel's restaurant. "They can phone home and the lights will be on for them when they walk in."

According to Rennie, 70 per cent of buyers will have homes elsewhere -- "Say, in Hawaii, Palm Springs or on Bowen Island."

"This is the ultimate city holding. It's world class and that's why Arthur Erickson was brought on board."

Erickson is a Vancouver-based, internationally known architect. But even he had to pass muster.

"We flew to Washington D.C. to meet The Ritz-Carlton design team. They let us have more leeway than seen in previous Ritz-Carlton buildings," Rennie says.

That leeway is 61 stories with a twist. The building, which will seem to be rotating on its axis, according toErickson, "gives the tower a dynamic vitality. Most buildings in the city are perpendicular . . . so it is quite true that this will be my signature on Vancouver's skyline," Erickson says.

One of the challenges when selling to people who have known the very best is to find the right stuff and to ensure that in three years, the appliances and finishings are still state-of-the art. So the interior design team flew to New York for its research and among the results are Balthaup kitchens with Miele and SubZero appliances.

Buyers will have their choice of three complete kitchen layouts: "Purist" which mixes white with aluminum for the ultimate in Euro-chic; "West Coast" with warm, flared, wood-plank floors and elm cabinets; and "Classic," a mix of dark aluminum and walnut for serious sophistication. The kitchens are on show in the expansive preview centre, as are two bathrooms and closets "with gorgeous mill work."

Despite the prices and quality assurance, buying here isn't like an art auction, Rennie says. "These people will want to see what they are getting. They won't phone in bids."

The building will sit at 1151 W. Georgia and is due for completion in 2011. At 61 storeys, it will rival another hotel/residence project, the Shangri-la at 60 storeys.

Tallest of all? No, save that for an 81-storey building under consideration in Surrey. It will be Canada's tallest skyscraper upon completion.

THE FACTS

Ritz-Carlton, Vancouver

What: 61-storey tower, 130-room hotel with 123 private residences, including penthouses.

Where: 1151 West Georgia St.

Developer: Holburn Developments (West Georgia) Ltd.

Sizes: 1,200 sq. ft. to 4,000 sq. ft.

Prices: $2.4 to $15 million. Penthouse prices on request.

Open: Presentation centre, 1090 West Georgia, has viewing by appointment only. Information can be found at Vancouversturn.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007

[excel]

some of those stats are way off. last line before the facts is classic.

[Canadian Mind]

At 61 storeys, it will rival another hotel/residence project, the Shangri-la at 60 storeys.

Tallest of all? No, save that for an 81-storey building under consideration in Surrey. It will be Canada's tallest skyscraper upon completion.


Who the fuck writes this shit?:koko:

[vanman]

At 61 storeys, it will rival another hotel/residence project, the Shangri-la at 60 storeys.

Tallest of all? No, save that for an 81-storey building under consideration in Surrey. It will be Canada's tallest skyscraper upon completion.

LOL! And that's why I don't read the province.

[officedweller]

I saw that too - brutal!

[mr.x]

just...wow...

[Cypherus]

Did you know you can sue the Province for misinformation if they don't correct that misstatement?

[Delirium]

i lost all faith in the province when they ran this a while back. a rendering of the fairmont hotel :haha:

http://www.lestwarog.com/estates/images/image001.jpg

[jlousa]

^^Wow^^ I really am going to lose my view.:)

[excel]

i didnt realize they were connecting the two buildings the whole way up, interesting design.

[Hot Rod]

lol

[Cypherus]

LOL...what the hell...?

[hollywoodnorth]

hey hey come on now it's not THAT bad......I mean its typical James Cheng right?

:D

[officedweller]

Nahh, the facade isn't "articulated" enough - it would never get through the Urban Design Panel!

[raggedy13]

Progress as of today...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9826.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9828.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9833.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9834.jpg

[mr.x]

so it's completely demolished? man, if only they could've done this baby in time for 2010. thanks for the photos rag.

[excel]

Looks like they are slowly starting to dig. Is the pit going to be around 80 feet like shangri-la?

[Canadian Mind]

wasn't there U/G parking or a foundation for that old shell aswell, meaning demolition will have to continue downwards? If not, then sweet, if so, by what method will they remove it? demolish it then dig out all the chunks, or remove it piece by piece?

[LeftCoaster]

wasn't there U/G parking or a foundation for that old shell aswell, meaning demolition will have to continue downwards? If not, then sweet, if so, by what method will they remove it? demolish it then dig out all the chunks, or remove it piece by piece?

I dont think there was any U/G parking associated with this site, im not 100% on that however.

As for the construction timeline, I think having this guy in the throws of construction around 2010 would look even better than a completed tower... It'l make the city look more dynamic.

[Cypherus]

Looking at the 3rd picture from raggedy13's recent post, it looks like there is no U/G parking. Hence, the soil exposure. I can be wrong, though.

[hollywoodnorth]

there was NO ug parking.