[Hed Kandi]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Imagffffe1.jpg



Facts
- Total floor area of the complex is 254,212 sq. ft.
- Complex features 158 dwelling units linked by a 3-story podium, containing 9 live-work units.
- Underground parking provides space for 202 vehicles with access from Cardero Street



http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1506/hhhhgp0.jpg

[nathan6969]

Still not sure quite how this one is gonna work, cuz isn't there a long strip of relatively new lowrise condo's on the north side of this site, is this gonna fill up that entire block??

[raggedy13]

^No it's just going to take up the southern half of the block. The north lowrise will remain as is.

[giallo]

I really like the taller tower. It looks like something that would be built in Scandinavia....well, Malmo. Hopefully, we'll get some more renderings from different angles.

[Delirium]

here's a new rendering showing the south side of the buildings. i like it but man, it's not cheap. the elevator box on the lowrise needs a reworking though. can't imagine the city allowing that..

http://cdn.travidia.com/rop-ad/5137910

[Hed Kandi]

here's a new rendering showing the south side of the buildings. i like it but man, it's not cheap. the elevator box on the lowrise needs a reworking though. can't imagine the city allowing that..

http://cdn.travidia.com/rop-ad/5137910

I would say that you're staring at the final design.

If it wasn't an approved final design, I doubt it would have made it to print.

[nathan6969]

It looks like they've already begun taking apart that old lowrise on the south east corner of the site.

[TwoFace]

Looks like it's being renovated as a "sales presentation center" first.

[raggedy13]

Those two core walls on the south side of the buildings will be lit up with LEDs. I've seen a couple renderings and they look pretty awesome. It didn't appear to extend to the top boxes though.

[giallo]

They start at 1.5 million? Ack!

[squeezied]

note:1.5mill for view residences.

[SFUVancouver]

Basement suites are a bargain and start in the low 600s.

[officedweller]

As usual, I'm not keen on the spandrel panels. They appear to have varied them (in response to different floorplates) so they look like part of the design.

Also, wouldn't it be nice if the elevator cores had an organic westcoast concrete design like the Olympic Oval's as shown in this pic by Bils or even a funky geometric pattern:

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Runnels-Installed17934.jpg

[officedweller]

Came across this pic of the facade of one of the buildings that will be demolished for West Pender Place.
Too bad the old facade elements can't be preserved or re-incorporated into the elevator cores of the new tower.

http://one-seventh.com/weblog01/category/vancouver/

http://one-seventh.com/weblog01/wp-content/uploads/precast-02.jpg

[Patrick_]

Thanks for the link above to my site, officedweller. My instinct was exactly the same: what are we losing? The particular image is this one (thumbnail of which I attach as there are a number of images on that page) of 1477 W. Pender I took with my BB a number of weeks ago:
http://one-seventh.com/weblog01/wp-content/uploads/precast-02.thumbnail.jpg

For those interested, this project went to the Urban Design Panel on November 7th. Minutes are here:
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/planning/udp/2007/minutes/nov7.htm#1

The good news is that the glazing is in fact silicone butt-jointed curtain wall, not window wall, so it should look pretty clean. I agree with the comment on the broad exposed concrete core face; the drawings indicate board-formed concrete of varying widths; but hey - illuminated & board-formed or not, it's still a massive concrete wall. My suggestion for what it was worth was to pay some homage to what is being lost - you'll notice that many of our period modern gems including the one to be demolished have a strip of glazing exposing the vertical circulation. It would have been interesting if HB/IBI played with that idea at the elevator core.

[Delirium]

the design panel is requesting some changes to that concrete wall..
exerpt from the minutes

"A couple panel members questioned why the width of exposed concrete on West Pender was the same for both towers, and suggested the width of exposed concrete on the short east tower could be narrower. A couple of other Panel members suggested adding narrow slot windows to the stair wells of the exposed concrete core walls in order to create a playful element and to give a more interesting light at night as well as to add natural light during the day.

Some of the Panel liked the LED lighting designed for the south side of the towers as they felt it would give a night-time signature to the building, however others raised concerns about potential light pollution."

here's some additional renderings.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/Toronto416/Image3.jpg

[Canadian Mind]

no one asked the concrete walls be removed altogether???

[officedweller]

Yeah, it would be nice if the elevator core was opened up somehow. The Cooper's Lookout Building at Cooper's Park has a vertical strip of windows down the backside into the elevator lobby - probably one of the only recent condos to do that.

[Hed Kandi]

the design panel is requesting some changes to that concrete wall..
exerpt from the minutes

"A couple panel members questioned why the width of exposed concrete on West Pender was the same for both towers, and suggested the width of exposed concrete on the short east tower could be narrower. A couple of other Panel members suggested adding narrow slot windows to the stair wells of the exposed concrete core walls in order to create a playful element and to give a more interesting light at night as well as to add natural light during the day.

Some of the Panel liked the LED lighting designed for the south side of the towers as they felt it would give a night-time signature to the building, however others raised concerns about potential light pollution."

here's some additional renderings.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/Toronto416/Image3.jpg


Did this UDP meeting just take place?

[officedweller]

Nov 7

[Canadian Mind]

Yeah, it would be nice if the elevator core was opened up somehow. The Cooper's Lookout Building at Cooper's Park has a vertical strip of windows down the backside into the elevator lobby - probably one of the only recent condos to do that.

Exterior elevators?

[officedweller]

That would be expensive to maintain, esp. for a condo complex.

[Hed Kandi]

Nov 7

So then the renderings are not the final design ?

[officedweller]

Surprisingly, this is a project that they started marketing before they received their development permit - there are a few others, too - maybe because of the civic strike. So the renderings used in the marketing ads don't necessarily show the "as built" form - that is, if the UDP or the DPB require changes.

[TwoFace]

I’m looking at 2 Bobcats running around the flat roof of the Building to be Demolished soon, scraping off the tar and gravel, and can’t stop wondering about all those News stories of roofs collapsing out East under the weight of the snow.

[nathan6969]

It looks like they're about ready to do some serious demo....they've gutted both buildings on the site over the last couple weeks, and they were removing the HVAC from the roof of the east building last week.

[excel]

good to hear.

[Delirium]

agreed! i'm really looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. it's going to have a big impact on the skyline when viewed from stanley park..

[hollywoodnorth]

I’m looking at 2 Bobcats running around the flat roof of the Building to be Demolished soon, scraping off the tar and gravel, and can’t stop wondering about all those News stories of roofs collapsing out East under the weight of the snow.


I was in the area also and was happy to see this sucker moving along!

[Delirium]

it's confirmed now that both buildings are sold-out. took six months.. not bad.

here's a picture of the model
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2345/2269819321_5abc8cfdd9_o.jpg

nothing really new about these renderings except they're bigger

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/west1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/west2.jpg

[giallo]

Wonderful news, Delirium. One of my favourite condo projects in the city is about to go forward.

[Jacques]

Awesome news

[vanman]

They better not fuck this one up with too many spandrels.

[Hed Kandi]

They better not fuck this one up with too many spandrels.

:cheers:

[nathan6969]

The demo on this one is progressing well, they completely taken down a huge part of the low rise building on the east end of the site.

[excel]

Yea i noticed that as well, hopefully someone can get some pictures.

[Spikester]

Yea i noticed that as well, hopefully someone can get some pictures.

View from the south side of Pender, afternoon of 16 May.

http://gallery.mac.com/aintspike/100021/IMG_2446/web.jpg

[osirisboy]

wow nice pic thanks :)

[nathan6969]

As of today, that entire low rise building is completely gone...and I see they've taken out most of the windows on the 5 storey beast at the west end of the site, so they may be ready to take it down quickly.

[Spikester]

They're busy scooping up and hauling off the debris today. I would post some more photos but I broke my wrist last weekend and I can't shoot left-handed with my DSLR.

[Spikester]

Couple of new shots showing the progress of destruction. The first one was shot a couple of weeks ago (back when it was still spring) and the second shows where they are today. Note that I shot the first one left-handed with my camera upside-down due to my aforementioned injury. I've since recovered enough control of the fingers of my right hand to press the shutter button.

http://gallery.mac.com/aintspike/100021/IMG_2448/web.jpg

http://gallery.mac.com/aintspike/100021/IMG_2461/web.jpg

[LeftCoaster]

Thanks Spike, you gunna have that view for the duration of construction?

[sacrifice333]

I didn't clue in until now that WPP included that entire block... wow!

[nikw]

back when it was still spring? are you saying that it isn't anymore....cause i'm thinking we've reverted back to winter.

[Spikester]

back when it was still spring? are you saying that it isn't anymore....cause i'm thinking we've reverted back to winter.
That's exactly what I was thinking, especially so on Thursday when I was walking home from St. Paul's in the wind and rain.

[Spikester]

Thanks Spike, you gunna have that view for the duration of construction?
Pretty much. I spend a lot of time out of the country for work, but that's part of my view when I'm home. I'll try to keep updating this thread as construction progresses. Looks like the west tower will block some of my view out toward Cypress, but the east tower should top out low enough that I'll be above it.

[excel]

thanks for the update.

[deasine]

Good to see you are getting better: and great looking shots.

[Spikester]

Thanks. It still hurts pretty bad, and it'll be a while before I can get back to the standard "shutter speed == 1/focal length" rule of thumb for handheld shots.

[officedweller]

Thanks for the pics!

[Spikester]

Destruction update:

http://gallery.mac.com/aintspike/100021/IMG_2465/web.jpg

[Denscity]

Thanks for the update. My other home overlooks this site as well but haven't been back there for a while.

[204]

Not much left of the old building now:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2611789739_05c38841a9_o_d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2611789911_148002b39f_o_d.jpg

[entheosfog]

I noticed the name of the building still there when I drove by it. Thanks for the pics!!

[Hed Kandi]

Definitely one of my favorite developments in the city.

[Spikester]

Just got back from two weeks in Spain, and I noticed that the old building is gone now. I figured there wasn't much point in posting a photo of an empty lot.

[subdude]

Sure go on post it, we're desperate for any new photos around here....

[Denscity]

Just got back from two weeks in Spain, and I noticed that the old building is gone now. I figured there wasn't much point in posting a photo of an empty lot.

Just makin' a request for an updated photo of this site. I've got a view of this site from my vancity home but haven't been there for while. Thanks

[Denscity]

Walked by the construction site a couple of days ago, (very close to my vancity home), and excavation was 3 storeys deep in some places with drilling rigs and a couple of excavators all revved up. A huge difference over what was there before. The west end of Pender st. will be almost unrecognizable. 4 new towers on the southside and 4 new towers on their way on the north side.

[LeftCoaster]

What is the fourth? the 2 of WPP, one coast hotel and?

What am I forgetting?

[phesto]

1255 West Pender?

[LeftCoaster]

oh yeah that skinny little guy right? I totally forgot about that project.

[jlousa]

Maybe 1255 W. Pender? :shrug: it's supposed to be a 14storey tower on a narrow lot, but work hasn't started yet.
Seems I'm a lil slow.

[Denscity]

There is a 200 foot res/off building slated to go up across from Flatiron beside the Evergreen building, 1200 block. I think it is 1255 w pender yes.

[TwoFace]

This one is still alive. They finished digging and have started to pour.

[raggedy13]

^Wow, great stuff. For whatever reason I was under the impression that they had started excavation relatively recently. Thanks for the update.

[squeezied]

haha it better be alive, the thing's sold out! http://www.westpenderplace.com/

[TwoFace]

Unfortunately "sold-out", doesn’t mean anything nowadays.
Excavators are waiting for a Flatbed.
Here’s a photo I took earlier…
http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/43711/2450272800040348811S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2450272800040348811NXexVa)

[officedweller]

Thnaks for the update - would be a cool shot if you could get a pic of the long deep excavation with the ship-like building sitting on the edge.

[Metro-One]

Good news, thanks!

[hollywoodnorth]

great news :)

and sadly SOLD OUT....means little right now it seems....

[TwoFace]

Thnaks for the update - would be a cool shot if you could get a pic of the long deep excavation with the ship-like building sitting on the edge.


I think there was a member here that had access to that angle earlier.
The people at Dockside must be getting seasick by now.

[Spikester]

Here's how it looks in the snow this morning:

http://gallery.me.com/aintspike/100021/P1000228/web.jpg

[raggedy13]

Pic from earlier today (now technically yesterday):

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/PC300059.jpg

[officedweller]

Nice, thanks.

[TwoFace]

Installing the Crane...

http://inlinethumb39.webshots.com/43814/2773962150040348811S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2773962150040348811hsuzuu)

[hollywoodnorth]

a sight for the sore eyes of many on this forum with the current situation around town :)

[osirisboy]

well this is sure nice to see. this forum was really beginning to be very depressing.

[raggedy13]

a sight for the sore eyes of many on this forum with the current situation around town :)

That's for sure. These days whenever I look out over the city I can't help but get depressed by the thought of all the cranes slowly dwindling away with nothing to replace them. At least we'll have this crane to watch for awhile to come. :tup:

[giallo]

^Yeah. What a difference a year makes.

[Metro-One]

Any news on this beauty, with the RC a gone, the Jameson House 99% gone and now the Georgia possibly on shaky ground (from what a few people have said on this forum, though i hope they are wrong) this is possibly the only remaining project downtown Vancouver that has (IMO) good architecture and is over 100m tall. I hope no news is good news at this point.

[rather_draconian]

Well the developer seems to have confidence in Georgia...according to an article posted in that forum last week.

[osirisboy]

theres a crane up and its been busy with construction crews everyday i have gone by it.

[SFUVancouver]

West Pender Place
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6420/westpenderplaceapril110.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, April 11th, 2009

[Hed Kandi]

Thanks for the update. :)

[giallo]

Sweet!

[osirisboy]

the status really should be changed from approved to under construction

[Delirium]

it never occured to me just how slender this site is... nice!
thanks for the update.

[Metro-One]

I have loved this design from the start, can't way to see it above grade!

[LeftCoaster]

Wow, I drive in from the NS every day and I did not realise construction was this far along. Thanks for the update!

[officedweller]

Nice!

[martinishaker]

I have also noticed how fast this beauty is going up. Compared to a lot of projects in Vancouver West Pender seems to be going up at a rapid pace. I believe when I walked by yesterday they were pouring the first floor.

[osirisboy]

I believe the second crane was installed on the weekend

[TwoFace]

I believe the second crane was installed on the weekend

Correct, this site is a model of efficiency… so far anyway.
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/44684/2679141980040348811S600x600Q85.jpg

[SFUVancouver]

^ Great photo!

[Spikester]

I believe the second crane was installed on the weekend
Sorry I missed that. I've been working in Texas the past three weeks.

[TwoFace]

Sorry I missed that.


Me too, I’m sure it was really exciting.
I made up for it by watching paint getting mixed at Home Depot.
(Couldn’t pass up that gem):whip:

[Delirium]

came across this on the architect's website. note the LED lighting on the right. that's the public art component of the project
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/Toronto416/Imaddge2.jpg
http://www.ibigroup.com/facilities/default.html

[Coldrsx]

simple but i bet it will look pretty cool at night once complete.

[metroXpress]

Nice!