Local studio Henriquez Partners Architects has designed a trio of skyscrapers in Vancouver, Canada, including the city's first supertall skyscraper, defined as a building exceeding 984 feet (300 metres)..
The three project sites at 501 & 595 West Georgia Street and 388 Abbott Street will provide a comprehensive mixed-use development that supports the City’s and Metro Vancouver’s goals to provide commercial job space in the Central Business District, increase hotel rooms downtown, and deliver a broad spectrum of housing types including Social Housing, Rental and Condominiums at a major transit node.
The architectural expression of the project tells a story that is unique to British Columbia and inspired by rare and ancient glass sea sponge reefs — living structures found off the BC coast that demonstrate strength and adaptability. This natural metaphor is expressed not only in distinct silhouettes and the sculptural form of its tallest tower, but in their environmental performance towards a net-zero carbon operation. Informed by the sea sponge’s structural ingenuity and ecological purpose, the towers offer a uniquely Vancouver expression of sustainability, beauty, and vertical urbanism.
In total, the development will create 1,939 new homes, a 920-room hotel, 70,000 ft2 of much-needed conference space, Indigenous-led reconciliation through art, and introduce major public amenities across both sites. This transformative project will serve as a major economic catalyst for downtown Vancouver, creating thousands of construction and permanent jobs. By bringing a critical mass of residents, workers, and visitors into the core, the project will contribute to the creation of a more vibrant, welcoming, and safer downtown.
The glass sea sponge – or hexactinellid – inspired the project and is unique to British Columbia. Glass sponges exhibit a combination of qualities including: an environmental role of filtering water and supporting underwater life; a strong and lightweight structure; and, an aesthetically beautiful crystalline form.
Source: henriquezpartners.com
