Oakridge Park | 13 Towers | 154m | 52fl | 5M sqft | U/C

jlousa · #1 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 5:00 AM**

For all that were getting a bit envious of Burnaby and their mall redevelopment, Vancouver has it's own version.

Quote:

enriquez Partners Architects has applied to the City of Vancouver to amend the existing CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District By-law for 650 West 41st Avenue (Oakridge Centre). The proposed amendment would change the CD-1 (1) By-law to develop a 45-storey mixed-use development consisting of 110 889 m² of commercial, 39 418 m² of office, 4 181 m² of amenity, and 250 646 m² of residential, with a total floor space ratio (FSR) of 3.54. The proposal includes 2,818 units with a maximum height of 125.6 m (412 ft.), and 6,694 parking spaces.

This will be a large development. It will be interesting to watch this one work it's way thru the city. Definitely a project that could use the support of forumers speaking to council when the time comes.

sacrifice333 · #2 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 5:30 AM**

Some really cool initial conceptual designs there!

No doubt, it'll get toned down, but 45 stories at Oakridge. I likey.

SpongeG · #3 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 5:46 AM**

wow so they will demolish the bay and zellers and move both of them to front on 41st? did i understand all that right?

Metro-One · #4 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 6:19 AM**

Isn't 125.6 meters really short for 45 floors? 45 X 3 is 135 meters. Unless they mean floor # count (excluding all the 4s knowing it will be Chinese buying all these units again, honestly, with how many condo they buy one would think metro-Vancouver's population is 90% Chinese now).

Overall a great looking concept. I see some of the original buildings will be retained.

Also, in the models the tallest tower looks much shorter than 125.6 meters.

LeftCoaster · #5 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 2:54 PM**

Finally! I've been waiting so patiently for these to be released. That looks absolutely spectacular.

Any idea on the buildout and timing? I'm guessing phase 1 will begin within a few months, but the bulk of this project looks to be a 10 - 15 year buildout.

phesto · #6 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 2:58 PM**

Overall looks great.

I don't see them getting 45 storeys, but I'm guessing their strategy is to ask for it and expect ~35 storeys.

The office component is a little disappointing. Wasn't expecting highrise or anything, but it would've been nice to see one or two self contained lowrise office buildings rather than just tacked-on podiums.

6,700 parking spaces seems like a ton of parking at first glance but I guess it makes sense given all the density and retail. For reference, Metropolis at Metrotown has 8,000 stalls apparently...

Glad the design was given to Henriquez and not JKMC!

TwoFace · #7 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 3:37 PM**

Very impressive, a city within a city.
All they need is a pool and a park and I'm in.

jlousa · #8 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 4:15 PM**

8'6" is the standard height for a residential floor.

Obviously buildout will depend on market conditions and due to the need for phasing around an operational mall, it would be safe to assume ~10yr buildout, could be even quicker.

This is still at the high level and I'm sure we'll see some additional fine tuning before we see things started. It will certainly increase ridership along the Canada Line.

Smooth · #9 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 4:33 PM**

Too bad that it looks like they'll be keeping the mid-rise brown-brick building at the corner of 41st & Cambie. It would be nice if that entrance was more grand.

GMasterAres · #10 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 5:42 PM**

Nice. See. Malls are perfect areas to densify. Go go Surrey Central and Guildford imo. Oakridge will turn out to be a nice center if and when this gets done. Even if it gets toned down a bit but I have my doubts with Canada Line now. Oakridge is really in a great spot Vancouver wise.

Easy to get to UBC, Richmond, and Downtown.

wrenegade · #11 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 5:46 PM**

Nailed it. Some of the architectural elements may need a little finessing but the overall concept is amazing. As I look down on Park Royal every day from my office and shake my head at how half-assed their current expansion is, this plan for Oakridge makes me smile (and cry a little, at what could have been at Park Royal). Looking forward to seeing this project move along. This may well be the best project in the city, better even that BIG's Beach and Howe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth

Too bad that it looks like they'll be keeping the mid-rise brown-brick building at the corner of 41st & Cambie. It would be nice if that entrance was more grand.

They didn't really have too much of a choice there as there is a 50 unit residential strata project on top of the office portion. It would have meant dealing with and trying to buy out 50 individual owners. Obviously Westbank/Cambridge thought that they would be able to work around then (they have). And the proposed roof that covers part of the 41st & Cambie intersection reminds me of the Metropol Parasol in Seville (although probably made of glass), and I figure that will make the entrance quite grand.

More info: Architizer: Metropol Parasol

Metro-One · #12 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 5:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

8'6" is the standard height for a residential floor.

Obviously buildout will depend on market conditions and due to the need for phasing around an operational mall, it would be safe to assume ~10yr buildout, could be even quicker.

This is still at the high level and I'm sure we'll see some additional fine tuning before we see things started. It will certainly increase ridership along the Canada Line.

Still seems short, there seems to be many residential towers with 45 to 50 floors that are considerably taller.

Anyways, 10 year build out for a project this large seems pretty optimistic...would be great, but I am not holding my breathe.

TwoFace · #13 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 5:59 PM**

Sign me up for Tower #12 South/West view.

Not sure I would want to be an owner when all that green space on top of the commercial buildings needs a new water-proofing sealant replacement though.

vanman · #14 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 9:14 PM**

Wow this will completely transform Oakridge from the dull and uninteresting place it is now.

Those Earthwork towers must've been inspired by Milan's vertical forest towers.

s211 · #15 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanman

Wow this will completely transform Oakridge from the dull and uninteresting place it is now.

Those Earthwork towers must've been inspired by Milan's vertical forest towers.

Are those for real?

phesto · #16 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 9:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

Are those for real?

Yep, it's under construction: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...Verticale.html

Metro-One · #17 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 9:30 PM**

Seems like with that much vegetation on a building it would require a lot of upkeep and structural monitoring. Trees are amazingly good at cracking rocks apart over the years

s211 · #18 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 11:17 PM**

It's amazing how daft the landscape consultants can be. There's a new living wall at a condo in town here that's about 6-7 storeys tall, and the only way to maintain it is with a huge cherry picker that involves having to hire multiple flag-persons for pedestrians and traffic to be re-routed. If that were my wall, I'd personally poison it and shut it down.

officedweller · #19 Posted **Oct 30, 2012, 11:22 PM**

Geez, I looked at my calendar to see whether it was April Fool's Day - but it wasn't....

Those point towers must be the cleanest Henriquez design I've ever seen. Nice mix of styles and massings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

wow so they will demolish the bay and zellers and move both of them to front on 41st? did i understand all that right?

All the more of a shame that there won't be continuous streetfront retail on the north side of 41st Ave.

mr.x · #20 Posted **Oct 31, 2012, 2:59 AM**

Amazing! I hope this gets approved....and yes, those 40+ towers included.

One thing I'd like to see changed: I hope all of the outdoor pedestrian mall areas are completely covered to protect from wind and rain.