[raggedy13]

THE RITZ

http://www.joevallee.com/New/ritz.jpg
joevallee.com


Height (struct.): 113 m/372 ft
Floors: 37
Construction end: 2007


- In the Urban Design Panel meeting of July 5, 2004, it was requested the proposed tower cap (mechanical), extending more than 30 feet above the roof parapet height of 339.4 feet, be reduced because of upper-level view impacts to upland neighbours.
- The residential building has 52,000 square feet of commercial space along Bute Street.
- Proposal re-submitted to Director of Current Planning on March 3, 2005 for more floors to compensate for reduction to 30-foot high mechanical penthouse cap.
- A restaurant called "The Crimelab" was located at the western tip of the site before the entire site was razed.

[raggedy13]

Pics from earlier today (technically now yesterday)...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9775.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9784.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9804.jpg

[vanman]

Where is the red colour that is supposed to go all the way up the sides?

[nathan6969]

^^ its all up the east side, but its still got the original white covering on it, i guess they don't wanna damage it while construction is goin on

[vanman]

^ So it will be as red as the retail levels?

[nathan6969]

Ya, it looks like the red on the tower is only on the east side, and i've only seen a rendering of the east side.

[raggedy13]

Ya, sorry I was apparently too lazy to walk around the building.

And thanks for adding the extra info mr.x2. I wasn't in the mood for setting up these new project intros. I just wanted a place to unload those photos.

[vanman]

From today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction041.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction039.jpg

the podium
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction040.jpg

[officedweller]

I noticed today that the spandrel panels for Ritz (on the tower, not the podium) are actually some of the best camoflaged on any condo tower downtown due to the reflectivity of the glass - surprising for a Pinnacle project. You can see one in Vanman's last pic.

[excel]

Thanks.

[SFUVancouver]

The Ritz (mixed-use condo and retail, Pender and Bute)
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/9692/p1040995qx5.jpg
My photos ( SFUVancouver in SSP | Vancouverite in SSC )

[mr.x]

^ so is every building going to look like that during an earthquake?

[SFUVancouver]

The retail podium is turning out quite nice. Is there a specific term for the small "rims" of concrete that protrude out above and beside the window? I like it. I also the like the sloping glass on the second floor and the crisp cornice line it creates. Also, note that the wrapping is being taken off of the red panels. Some of the wrapping was torn off of the building during our last wind storm to reveal a sort of ruddy red colour but thankfully the real red is better.
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/9216/p1050381kz9.jpg
(My photo, taken February 4th, 2008)

Red panel detail and that nice glass on the Pender elevation.
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7751/p1050383fs2.jpg
(My photo, taken February 4th, 2008)

The retail podium along Bute. Imagine living in the condo beside those big HVAC units on the roof of the podium. I bet that "view" was not in the sales brochure.
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4496/p1050385de5.jpg
(My photo, taken February 4th, 2008)

Lastly, a shot of the Ritz and the Flatiron. It isn't the greatest picture. I don't know how to get the most out of my camera on days like this when it is bright outside but overcast.
http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/5517/p1050384nh6.jpg
(My photo, taken February 4th, 2008)

[vanman]

Thanks for the update. Ritz is looking sharp, I knew this one would turn out good.

[Yume-sama]

It does look nice, the red turned out better than I expected.

[nathan6969]

Its gotta be just about topped out now, maybe a couple more floors...

[bils]

^ so is every building going to look like that during an earthquake?

if we're lucky

[Jacques]

actually the red looks muted compare to the strip of red at the Spectrum block, it like get me out of there I am about to jump.
this is really nice
thanks

[jlousa]

The Ritz topped out last week, there just have the mech floors to complete.

[officedweller]

Thanks! Looks good - gotta wonder about those HVAC units - and they're on the north side (water view) of the building.

[cjohnny4]

Is there any solid information about which retailers are going into the Ritz?

[raggedy13]

From what I've heard, the largest space (on the upper retail level) with the entrance facing the Melville/Bute intersection is going to be a Shoppers Drug Mart. Though my recollection could be a bit off.

[vanman]

Updates for ya'll.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction/DSC01616.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction/DSC01617.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction/DSC01619.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction/DSC01622.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction/DSC01621.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction/DSC01620.jpg

[excel]

Nice sunny day makes every building look nice.

[officedweller]

Thanks!
That's going to be a bright red on the Ritz.

[archiwei]

What does "ritz" really mean? anything related to "red" color?

[squeezied]

my guess is that its a tacky way of sounding high-end

[vanman]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction2/IMGP1851.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction2/IMGP1841.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction2/IMGP1848.jpg

[204]

my guess is that its a tacky way of sounding high-end

The word comes from Cesar Ritz (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Cesar+Ritz), the swiss hotelier. Now the word generally means "Elegant, often ostentatious display".

[Hed Kandi]

The red strip on this building is enough to make me vomit everytime I see it. http://extreme-board.com/images/smiles/451.gif

[vanman]

^What are you talking about that is the best part of the building besides the podium. Would you rather it be a strip of painted beige or better yet how bout grey spandrels like Sapphire.

[officedweller]

Thnaks - it really does block views from the Melville penthouse now doesn;t it?

[jlousa]

Those pictures don't really show the true heights. The Melville is still considerably taller, by ~10stories. I was just looking at them thru my window. On some pics here they almost look the same height.

[raggedy13]

From earlier today:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/2008%20April%208/P4080002.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/2008%20April%208/P4080038.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/2008%20April%208/P4080061.jpg

[Cypherus]

^Thanks for the pics. raggedy. I noticed the copper on the Melville has been holding well on its own too.

[excel]

thanks for the updates. it looks like ritz, flatiron and shangri-la will all be finished the exterior of the tower around the same time.

[deasine]

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2676729_8378.jpg
The Ritz Construction ~ Picture by Me ~ Photo compressed with Facebook ~ 04/13/2008

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v233/79/110/537325252/n537325252_2676730_8781.jpg
The Ritz Construction ~ Picture by Me ~ Photo compressed with Facebook ~ 04/13/2008

http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/)
This work (above) is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/).

[entheosfog]

From Sunday:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF6701.jpg?t=1210052968

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF6702.jpg?t=1210053118

[Cypherus]

Thanks for the picture update entheosfog. This condo is one of my favorites.

[excel]

looking good, almost done.

[cjohnny4]

I live just a few blocks from the Ritz and noticed a "Now Hiring" sign on the retail portion today. Sure enough, it is for Shoppers Drug Mart. I am somewhat disappointed--never liked Shoppers as much as London Drugs. Wonder if there is other retail space around Shoppers within the Ritz. Maybe I'll be wowed by some other store going in there!

[vanman]

From today.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction4/DSC01895.jpg

[nathan6969]

I live just a few blocks from the Ritz and noticed a "Now Hiring" sign on the retail portion today. Sure enough, it is for Shoppers Drug Mart. I am somewhat disappointed--never liked Shoppers as much as London Drugs. Wonder if there is other retail space around Shoppers within the Ritz. Maybe I'll be wowed by some other store going in there!

I wonder why they're recruiting now, it's gotta be a couple months still before this thing is ready to go.

[cjohnny4]

It looks like the top of the east side of the Ritz is getting a beautiful coat of "Vancouver Beige" paint! (Do you think Home Depot actually sells that colour with that name??) Good thing the bright red is at the corners; otherwise, the building would be invisible in Vancouver's sea of beige!

[AlexYVR]

It looks like the top of the east side of the Ritz is getting a beautiful coat of "Vancouver Beige" paint! (Do you think Home Depot actually sells that colour with that name??) Good thing the bright red is at the corners; otherwise, the building would be invisible in Vancouver's sea of beige!

You can find it in their paint aisle right next to 'Yaletown Green'

[Denscity]

I live just a few blocks from the Ritz and noticed a "Now Hiring" sign on the retail portion today. Sure enough, it is for Shoppers Drug Mart. I am somewhat disappointed--never liked Shoppers as much as London Drugs. Wonder if there is other retail space around Shoppers within the Ritz. Maybe I'll be wowed by some other store going in there!

I think there is something like 50,000 square feet of retail in that building. Don't think Shoppers is taking up all of it. It's only a block away from my Vancouver home.

[nathan6969]

I walked by today, and they've made big progress on the interior of the shoppers, looks like they have signage and everything up inside...they must be planning on opening before the tower is actually complete.

[SFUVancouver]

The Ritz' signature red elements have been brought around to the townhouses along Melville. I also think that the back of Flatiron and its three fenestration schemes ended up working together just fine.
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9748/ritztownhousesandflatiret6.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 21st, 2008.

[squeezied]

bleh, i dont know about the red, it looks cleap like concord's spectrum.. although it could look expensive like HG1; but im inclined to think the former.

and i do agree flatiron look alright.

[Denscity]

Actually I don't really like the marble on HG1. Its kinda orangy red.

[danby]

I don't mind the red it looks quite good!

[nathan6969]

The townhouses at the ritz have taken a turn for the worse. Since SFU's last photo, they've put up red brick over the concrete on the melville side. It looks terrible with that bright red right beside it. The red looked fine against the concrete, I'm not sure why they went with brick.

[vanman]

^Ughhh, I can picture that being really ugly.

[excel]

Almost finished, from today. Taken with my new camera phone:

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMAGE_070.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMAGE_074.jpg

[Pinion]

Which phone excel?

I don't mind the red on this but I'm really disliking the trend of multiple colours like this on condos. It'll look really dated really fast.

[excel]

I got the HTC Diamond Touch phone, 3.2 mega pixel camera.

[deasine]

I got the HTC Diamond Touch phone, 3.2 mega pixel camera.

Great choice... too bad no carrier has the touch pro yet...

[jlousa]

Walked by at lunch, all the shelves are up and most of them stocked, Don't know when the Shoppers is opening but by the looks of it, they could open this weekend if they needed to. They need to redo a section of sidewalk outside so I imagine the opening might be still a couple of weeks.

[phesto]

^Looks like Shoppers is still a few weeks away from opening.

Here's a couple pics from today:

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/9265/001mh7.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2536/002jr7.jpg

Townhouses on Melville:
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5342/003qh0.jpg

[look@round]

Ouh... It's really...RED!! But it brings some touch of colour in the city!

[Denscity]

Walked by yesterday and the Shoppers signage is up and lit. The shelves fully stocked so should be any day now. The store goes on for quite a distance down Pender. Quite a long narrow store i'm guessin'.

[Built Form]

Walked by yesterday and the Shoppers signage is up and lit. The shelves fully stocked so should be any day now. The store goes on for quite a distance down Pender. Quite a long narrow store i'm guessin'.

The store opens this saturday november 1st.

[excel]

i walked by yesterday and it was already open...

[phesto]

Just did a quick scan of MLS which shows there are 33 active listings in this building. 33!

With 185 units, that's almost 1 in 5...

[Coldrsx]

^and i dont think much has changed. This weekend we played a lot of poker in the Ritz and my buddy who lives there said it is rumored to be 50% + empty. He rarely sees anyone.

speaking of the Ritz i was less than impressed with the building, both inside and out.

[officedweller]

The upstairs corner unit is for lease as office space:

http://www.collierscanada.com/3203

http://www.collierscanada.com/services/PropertyFile.ashx?src=p&lid=b231a4eecac740beb0efc995be457d33&bid=eb5cc1e2db224ddb8b745b1de11d185a&w=762&h=562&q=80
http://www.collierscanada.com/3203