[Delirium]

Don't have much background info aside from it being designed by Arthur Erickson. it's also the last market building to be developed by concord in beach crescent. occupancy is set for 2009. it will be nice the have the seawall fully completed too when it's done. as for the building itself, i'm looking forward to seeing how it will turn out. the glass looks great.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image2-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image9.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Imagpe1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image8.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image1-3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image3.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image5.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image4.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image7.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image6.jpg

[nathan6969]

This building looks like it'll fit in great with the area.

Any contruction shots, last time I saw it they were still digging the hole??

[Coldrsx]

my friends live in kings landing beside this and i cannot wait to see it up and completed...didnt like it at 1st, but the more i see of it, the more i think it will become an iconic small tower to the city.

[giallo]

The like the circular marine windows.

[agrant]

Is this thing still a hole in the ground? Seems like ages that it's been that way.

[Architype]

The best ones take the longest, I would think. This will be a great sublime statement on the False Creek waterfront.

[nathan6969]

I think this one just up to ground level now, but given that they're digging below the waterline, I imagine its a fairly complicated project...

[eduardo88]

I think this one just up to ground level now, but given that they're digging below the waterline, I imagine its a fairly complicated project...

shouldnt be too complicated, i guess they just have to excavate and pour in a concrete "bath tub" to seal it from the water. after that its just like a regular construction site.

anyone have any pics?

[officedweller]

Could it be due to geothermal heating?

[Delirium]

finally at grade...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/Toronto416/er.jpg

[Hed Kandi]

finally at grade...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/Toronto416/er.jpg

It should move quickly now

[excel]

^id still give it a month before it moves quickly.

[westcoast604]

hed kandi, and others - theres no need to post the entire picture again directly below the previous post. Im pretty sure most people will figure out what your referring to.

[Coldrsx]

my friends who live in king's landing (taller one) with a east view have a killer view point of this thing going up.

[SFUVancouver]

The Erickson is now officially above grade.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2816/theericksonmarch272008skz7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 27th, 2008.

[officedweller]

The floorplate looks quite small for the Erickson - i.e. the spine with the round window is set back quote far from the edge of the site behnd the townhouses.

[zivan56]

Love the "condo wall" in the back of the picture!

[vanman]

An update from April 04

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction3/DSC01749.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction3/DSC01750.jpg

[excel]

nice to see this one rising above ground.

[SFUVancouver]

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8691/ericksonapril122008smalhd4.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver (SSP (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/index.php)) / Vancouverite (SSC (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/)), on April 12th, 2008.

[Cypherus]

finally at grade...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/Toronto416/er.jpg

Wow, those Concord towers (circa 90s) are starting to look aged in addition to being architecturally uninspiring compared to the condos at Coal harbour.

[officedweller]

Actually, the beach neighbourhood is newer than late 1990s - although they may have been designed back then, they were only completed well after 2000. They look better from the "front".

[ckkelley]

^
I agree. Perhaps moreso from the east sidewalk on the Granville St. bridge. Although that giant park is in dire need of some kind of animation.

[amac]

Great. Another Erickson monstrosity. I gotta tell ya, I'm not a fan of his work. His current "twisty" designs leave a lot to be desired. Just because modern engineering says "yes you can" doesn't mean you should. Ahh, superstar architects...

[Hed Kandi]

Great. Another Erickson monstrosity. I gotta tell ya, I'm not a fan of his work. His current "twisty" designs leave a lot to be desired. Just because modern engineering says "yes you can" doesn't mean you should. Ahh, superstar architects...

I disagree. The Erickson is one of the better examples of architecture in this city and I think most people will be pleasantly surprised with the final product.

[flight_from_kamakura]

I disagree. The Erickson is one of the better examples of architecture in this city and I think most people will be pleasantly surprised with the final product.

i agree. the erickson is cool. and the new 'twist' too and (i imagine) the sefc buildings too. but in these, i think we're seeing milkovitch more than erickson. remember that the guy is very old, and that he oversees a very large architecture firm. he probably does little more than glance at the draft sketches on some of these projects.

and his signature projects in the area don't really stand up too well over time. koerner library at ubc - personally, i think it's a disaster. the 'stone' pedestal is garish and incongruous and the building dimensions just seem weird. toss in rock and woodchip beds by the landscape architects and you've got yourself a building that will draw widespread ridicule in just a few years. go back a few more years and you've got his concrete bunker phase - at ubc, downtown and in other cities. it's nice to have a well known local architect, and this guy can design, there's no doubt, but it's indisputable that his firm has been awarded some commissions based on renown alone. (and it's also indisputable that developers push his renown as a selling point)

[SFUVancouver]

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/4463/ericksonjuly9th2008p108cz7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 9th, 2008.

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/5034/ericksonfromtheeastjulypr6.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 9th, 2008.

[excel]

nice update!

[hollywoodnorth]

very interesting. I think this will turn out great :)

[vanman]

It's moving along quickly now. The twist is already more prominent then I previously expected it would be. Great pics SFU!

[raggedy13]

Thanks for the update SFU. I'm happy to see this one with a good portion above ground finally. It's looking pretty nice so far. Between this one, the Olympic Village, and the Ritz-Carlton, Vancouver will have have some nice twisty elements in its architectural mix... all thanks to Arthur Erickson interestingly enough.

It's interesting how he has gone from such brutalist architecture earlier in his career to a style that is so much more organic. I wonder if his "harp" concept tower involved twisting elements as well.

[deasine]

It's interesting how he has gone from such brutalist architecture earlier in his career to a style that is so much more organic. I wonder if his "harp" concept tower involved twisting elements as well.

I hope the harp turns to reality. =D

[amor de cosmos]

Between this one, the Olympic Village, and the Ritz-Carlton, Vancouver will have have some nice twisty elements in its architectural mix... all thanks to Arthur Erickson interestingly enough.
I don't know what it is about twisting buildings but they just do nothing for me. I think I like them better when the twist is more subtle like with the Erickson & the Olympic Village buildings. I didn't even know the Olympic Village buildings had a twist until I saw the u/c pics on the other thread.

It's interesting how he has gone from such brutalist architecture earlier in his career to a style that is so much more organic. I wonder if his "harp" concept tower involved twisting elements as well.
What's the harp concept tower?

[squeezied]

i believe the harp refers to the fringe towers

[amor de cosmos]

what are the fringe towers?

[raggedy13]

i believe the harp refers to the fringe towers

Yes, that is what I was referring to. The name had momentarily escaped me.

what are the fringe towers?

It was a project envisioned by Arthur Erickson that would see Vancouver get a new tallest, ~80 (83?) storey tower. Erickson said each floor represented his age at the time. It was supposed to have an outdoor theatre at the base and some cables that ran down the length of the building which could be used to support a fabric roof for the theatre when it rained. It was also supposed to have another theatre at the top of the tower on the roof.

Anywho, it was described as looking like a harp since it had those cables. No renderings were released though and the project remains a vision to this day with no information having been mentioned about it in the media for a few years now. The last info released about it said Erickson was looking for an appropriate site for it and that he was prepared to fund the whole thing himself.

There's probably more information about it on emporis.

[mr.x]

Anywho, it was described as looking like a harp since it had those cables. No renderings were released though and the project remains a vision to this day with no information having been mentioned about it in the media for a few years now. The last info released about it said Erickson was looking for an appropriate site for it and that he was prepared to fund the whole thing himself.

A project of that scale would probably cost at least $700-million....i didn't realize his pockets were that deep.

[amor de cosmos]

It was a project envisioned by Arthur Erickson that would see Vancouver get a new tallest, ~80 (83?) storey tower. ...last info released about it said Erickson was looking for an appropriate site for it and that he was prepared to fund the whole thing himself.

I think I've heard of that before. I didn't know what it was called though. I didn't think it even had a name.

[raggedy13]

A project of that scale would probably cost at least $700-million....i didn't realize his pockets were that deep.

Ya, I was wondering about that myself. Maybe it was more that he was prepared to get the financing in place himself (through alternative means) rather than pay for the whole thing out of his own pocket.

Or maybe my recollection is just really off since I haven't read any of the articles about it for a long long time and there is absolutely nothing in the original articles that says anything remotely similar to that.

[mr.x]

Ya, I was wondering about that myself. Maybe it was more that he was prepared to get the financing in place himself (through alternative means) rather than pay for the whole thing out of his own pocket.

Or maybe my recollection is just really off since I haven't read any of the articles about it for a long long time and there is absolutely nothing in the original articles that says anything remotely similar to that.

Or maybe it's just that he's really really really old (architect of Stonehenge) and that he still thinks in pre-historic currency.:haha: j/k

I was quite optimistic about this project when it was first leaked in the media...it's a shame that this was merely a vision. I don't know how serious this project is when Erickson adds a floor every year to represent his own age.

[SFUVancouver]

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8123/theericksonaug72008p108uj1.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, August 7th, 2008.

[subdude]

looks gaudi-esque

[osirisboy]

i love it i just wish it was taller

[Coldrsx]

wow...those columns are intense.

[rather_draconian]

Taken by lkvy on flickr on Nov. 9th, sorry the picture seemed to be locked so I didn't know how to link it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkvy/3023385413/

[sacrifice333]

Any glazing on this tower yet?

[officedweller]

No glazing yet.

[Delirium]

nov.21 update by ChromaticRat on flickr.com
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3058094610_58ae850bf9_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathrynt/3058094610/

[rather_draconian]

Beautiful pic, thanks for the update. Looks like the redressing of Governor's Tower is almost done too.

[amor de cosmos]

the other side, Nov 25 (my pics)
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/3712/theerickson01resizedsr2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/theerickson01resizedsr2.jpg/1/w750.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img360/theerickson01resizedsr2.jpg/1/)

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/3026/theerickson02resizedrh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/theerickson02resizedrh2.jpg/1/w1000.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img359/theerickson02resizedrh2.jpg/1/)

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/240/theerickson03resizedfo5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/theerickson03resizedfo5.jpg/1/w1000.png (http://g.imageshack.us/img360/theerickson03resizedfo5.jpg/1/)

[Metro-One]

This is a really cool looking building, and it is a good thing it is in a prominent location (easy to see) on the False Creek waterfront

[officedweller]

Nice, thanks.

On the water side of the tower, I noticed that the concrete wall with the round window varies in width as it goes up the tower (widens a bit then tapers back down) - the other sides don't seem to do that. Is that a design element?

[amor de cosmos]

the building twists a little & then twists back, I think that's all it is

[Delirium]

update from yesterday by bubbaho on flickr.com
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/untitled1-1.jpg

these are from November but still a nice view. the erickson really completes the area well. i'm so glad it's not another typical looking condo.
http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2008/vch2008_488.jpg

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2008/vch2008_489.jpg

[Coldrsx]

nice update and it is growing on me...and yes, so nice not to see another Cheng.

that 1st aerial looks surprisingly manhattany

[rather_draconian]

Great pictures...looks like there is plastic wrap or something around the first two floors above the podium.

It's crazy how Richards and Homer are entirely condo-ized now!

[Coldrsx]

^and seymour and even howe to a certain degree.

[Vancity]

nice update and it is growing on me...and yes, so nice not to see another Cheng.

that 1st aerial looks surprisingly manhattany


You beat me to it. I was going to comment on the 1st aerial pic as well. I almost thought it was Manhattan! Downtown's coming along...now only if we can get head companies to build their office towers here in Vancouver...we'd be all set! Enough of the Live first in downtown, we need people who work there too. Anyone know what the updates on office(s) are? What about the Bentall 6 - I heard that was proposed? Was it?

[officedweller]

Great pictures...looks like there is plastic wrap or something around the first two floors above the podium.



Anyone know if there's a delay in the shipment of the windows?
i.e. are they plastic wrapping so they can start finishing work inside before the tower envelope is enclosed?

[Coldrsx]

plastic wrap as hoarding? interesting concept, but i dont think so.

[LeftCoaster]

[/B]

You beat me to it. I was going to comment on the 1st aerial pic as well. I almost thought it was Manhattan! Downtown's coming along...now only if we can get head companies to build their office towers here in Vancouver...we'd be all set! Enough of the Live first in downtown, we need people who work there too. Anyone know what the updates on office(s) are? What about the Bentall 6 - I heard that was proposed? Was it?
It is proposed, might even be approved, but it is not being pushed through as of right now. There are a few other substantial office buildings (not a new tallest though) in the design stages... but likely will not go ahead for some time now whith the current shape of the economy.

[raggedy13]

A few pics I took yesterday:

Upon closer inspection it was just plastic on the lower tower floors, no glass yet.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3198709992_b1b5da7a0b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3197862153_7d51bca8dd_b.jpg

[Vancity]

It is proposed, might even be approved, but it is not being pushed through as of right now. There are a few other substantial office buildings (not a new tallest though) in the design stages... but likely will not go ahead for some time now whith the current shape of the economy.

That's good news! at least there is some movement going on with regards to offices being built in the downtown core. not much is being built because of the economy these days :( but at least Bentall 6 has been proposed, and even approved (fingers crossed), and other office buildings in the design stages. this economic recession isn't going to last forever, so when we do get out of it, i'm looking forward to seeing new office towers being built. that'll be refreshing to see, rather than the condos coming up the last few years (although, that was quite exciting for a time)

[Vancity]

A few pics I took yesterday:

Upon closer inspection it was just plastic on the lower tower floors, no glass yet.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3198709992_b1b5da7a0b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3197862153_7d51bca8dd_b.jpg

I'm liking this project a lot. How many floors does the Erikson have? It hasn't topped out yet in the pictures has it?

[jlousa]

Just by counting the floors it appears they are working on the floor slab of the last floor now, so that would mean they still need to do the ceiling slab plus any mech floors.

[Coldrsx]

my friends face this building in King's Landing and are losing some of their view.

[Spork]

my friends face this building in King's Landing and are losing some of their view.

Your friend sounds like a NIMBY. I would hate to lose my view, but unless you are RIGHT on the water (or some other land that will never be built upon), you should expect to have your view lost when you buy a place. If somebody doesn't like it, then they should move into the new building or buy the land between their home and their desired view.

[agrant]

Anyone know if there's a delay in the shipment of the windows?
i.e. are they plastic wrapping so they can start finishing work inside before the tower envelope is enclosed?Yea, it could be for finishing purposes (drywalling, plastering drywall or spraying insulation). They'd have propane fueled blowers setup inside too help with drying if that's the case. Just a guess, but it is common to do that.


BTW - I'm pretty happy this building was able to squeeze in to this location. Adds a little variety.

[LeftCoaster]

my friends face this building in King's Landing and are losing some of their view.Your friend sounds like a NIMBY. I would hate to lose my view, but unless you are RIGHT on the water (or some other land that will never be built upon), you should expect to have your view lost when you buy a place. If somebody doesn't like it, then they should move into the new building or buy the land between their home and their desired view.

Spork what the hell are you talking about... he never said his friend was complaining about it, for all you know he might be a big fan of this building.

Give your head a shake.

[Coldrsx]

^indeed as they recognize being beside a building like that improves their neighbourhood and value.

[Spork]

Spork what the hell are you talking about... he never said his friend was complaining about it, for all you know he might be a big fan of this building.

Give your head a shake.

*shake*

Sorry, I lived in White Rock for most of my life, and all you could read about in the paper was "I'm losing my view! I'm losing my view!", so I instinctively think that it is negative.

[raggedy13]

A few closer up shots from today:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3502/3228213318_7975bc79a8_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3227354409_8da0f0a590_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3228201448_90b71d65b1_b.jpg

[entheosfog]

Yesterday, taken by me:
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9096/dscf8797.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/9274/dscf8799.jpg

[giallo]

Looking good.

[rather_draconian]

Can't wait to see glazing on this guy.

[osirisboy]

thats crazy, its not even completely topped out yet and its been under construction consistently for what over 3 years?

[amor de cosmos]

thats crazy, its not even completely topped out yet and its been under construction consistently for what over 3 years?

look at it, no part of that building would be routine to build. it's like a one-off.

[osirisboy]

look at it, no part of that building would be routine to build. it's like a one-off.

oh I know, im not complaining or anything. does anyone know how much this thing cost to build?

[wrenegade]

From March 10th. My photo

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3351144728_69e3cd1b83_b.jpg

[TwoFace]

Finally Topped-off and starting to resemble a centipede.
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/44085/2888580140040348811S600x600Q85.jpg

[metroXpress]

Thanks for the pics and it is a very interesting design.

[officedweller]

Why is that taking so long?
A thought occurred to me... The Erickson is supposed to have parking for the Marina out in front of the tower that was challenged by area residents - any idea what the status of that Marina is and if that's the cause of the hold up? i.e. they don't want it occupied until the Marina is constructed?

[Delirium]

something must of gone wrong. this was the site a year ago. it does not take a full year to build 18 floors. either way, nice to see it finally getting done. looking forward to seeing the glass go up -

The Erickson is now officially above grade.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2816/theericksonmarch272008skz7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 27th, 2008.

[TwoFace]

If I remember correctly, there was some type of gas seepage detected when whey originally dug the hole.
Not sure if that was the cause of the delay.

[rather_draconian]

It would probably take longer than most condos to build floor-for-floor anyway, since every floor is slightly different.

[SFUVancouver]

The Erickson
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/3275/ericksonapril1109p11104.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, April 11th, 2009

[raggedy13]

I wish they could put up some actual glass already. Thanks for the sweet pic SFU.

[thenorthofvan]

This is about the only tower where I really do wish there was another 15 - 20 stories.

[metroXpress]

This tower could've added another 50m!!

[agrant]

Well, any tower could have added... I'm pretty sure the final height was chosen as a step down to the creek from the buildings behind. It doesn't completely dominate everything, which I'm sure was intended, it just adds to the surroundings. Having something really tall (like 40-60 floors) on the edge of False Creek would go against how the downtown core has been planned and developed over the last several decades.

I think it's a great addition. The only thing I'm unhappy about is the fact there aren't more of this sort of unique style in our condos.

[sacrifice333]

I wish they could put up some actual glass already. Thanks for the sweet pic SFU.

First two stories above the podium now have glazing!

[officedweller]

Great news!

[raggedy13]

Excellent news, thanks. I'll have to check it out sometime soon.

[deasine]

Yup. I actually like the building a lot more than I previously. I see it every week now that I dragon boat.

[squeezied]

i saw it today, it looked tinted dark green. should be a much welcomed change.

[rather_draconian]

Could you still see the concrete pillars behind the glass? I think that's the most interesting part of the building for me.

[officedweller]

I was on the water last night and forgot to look at it - we didn't stop in the vicinity.

[sacrifice333]

Could you still see the concrete pillars behind the glass? I think that's the most interesting part of the building for me.

I don't recall... I'll take the pooch for a walk this afternoon and try to snap some pics from the south side of false creek.

[zivan56]

Pic from today (taken by me):
http://www.iwdstudio.com/pictures/2009/april23/erik.jpg

[sacrifice333]

Sweet, thanks.

Looks like you can indeed see the pillars, at least from up close.