This past year, conversations surrounding Vancouver development were dominated by the difficulties those in the industry were facing, whether it be rising interest rates, labour shortages, or supply chain issues still rippling from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through it all, Metro Vancouver saw several notable urban development projects reach completion, from the Deloitte Summit to a significant portion of Burrard Place, as well as The Stack.
With several more landscape-changing developments slated to be completed in 2023, here's a look at some of the most exciting ones.
The Post
The Post. (QuadReal Property Group)
Location: 349 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Developer: QuadReal Property Group
Set to be one of the largest office buildings in Vancouver, The Post is also one of the largest heritage building revitalization developments not just in BC, but all of Canada. The historic Canada Post building is in the process of being turned into a new Tech Hub for Amazon Canada -- but that's not all.
The project consists of a North and South Tower, which will total to 1,050,000 sq. ft of office space, on top of 175,000 sq. ft of retail space. In November, QuadReal Senior Vice President of Commercial Leasing Jeff Rank confirmed to STOREYS that the South Tower is expected to be completed in Q1, while the North Tower is set to be completed in Q3.
One Central
One Central at 13350 Central Avenue in Surrey. (Aoyuan International)
Location: 13350 Central Avenue, Surrey
Developer: Aoyuan International, Magnum Projects
Its title as the tallest residential building in Surrey may not last for long, but One Central, located near Surrey Central Station, is nonetheless a big project in one of the largest and fastest-growing municipalities in Canada.
Designed by Chris Dikeakos Architects, One Central is set to be 44 storeys, with 550 units, and top-notch amenities. Magnum Projects tells STOREYS that the expected completion date is early Spring 2023.
Capstan Station
Rendering of Capstan Station. (TransLink)
Location: No. 3 Road and Capstan Way, Richmond
Developer: TransLink
Neither an office nor a residential development, Capstan Station marks the second time ever that TransLink has built a new SkyTrain station between two existing stations.
In this case, Capstan Station, set to open this spring, will be located mid-way between Bridgeport Station and Aberdeen Station on the Canada Line. It's expected to significantly cut down the 20-minute walk between the stations, providing better access to the retailers in the area, as well as better transit access for nearby upcoming residential buildings.
The project was funded by TransLink and the City of Richmond, who collected funding from developers in the area in exchange for density bonuses -- an interesting approach of delivering a community amenity while reducing the burden on taxpayers.
Highline Metrotown
Highline Metrotown. (Thind Properties)
Location: 6511 Sussex Avenue, Burnaby
Developer: Thind Properties
While the area surrounding Burnaby's Metrotown has already undergone quite the transformation in the past decade, redevelopment is still happening steadily, with several more skyscrapers in the works.
Developed by Thind, the 48-storey Highline Metrotown will be located just a block away from Metrotown Station, Metropolis at Metrotown mall, and Station Square. Filled with high-end one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom condominiums, it's scheduled to be completed this summer.
The Nelson
Location: 268 Nelson's Court, New Westminster
Developer: Wesgroup Properties
The Brewery District in New Westminster. (Wesgroup Properties)
The Nelson is a mixed-use development on Nelson's Court in New Westminster. It comes as part of Wesgroup's master-planned Brewery District, the historic neighbourhood surrounding Sapperton Station and Royal Columbia Hospital that will ultimately include over 140,000 sq. ft of retail space, 600,000 sq. ft of office space, 80,000 sq. ft of space for health services, and 850 residential units.
The lower floors of the 30-storey Nelson will house commercial space and Class-A office space, while the floors above will house residential units. The Nelson is expected to be completed by Q3.
B6
Location: 1090 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Developer: BentallGreenOak
The B6 at 1090 West Pender Street. (BentallGreenOak / MCMP Architects)
The office real estate market in Vancouver has held steady this year, particularly in Downtown Vancouver. More high-end supply is set to be completed in Q3 with BentallGreenOak's Bentall 6, located across the street from the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel.
Designed by MCMP Architects, the office building will be 31 storeys, atop a three-storey retail podium, with rooftop terraces on both the building and the podium. According to BentallGreenOak, all available space is now fully leased.
Concord Brentwood: Hillside East
Views from the balcony of Hillside East. (Concord Pacific)
Location: 4880 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby
Developer: Concord Pacific
Concord Pacific says their Brentwood project is their "most extensive community transformation since the development of Yaletown" and will be a "seamless extension" of The Amazing Brentwood built around a 13-acre park.
Concord Brentwood will eventually see 10 total buildings added to the area, delivered in multiple phases. Hillside West led the way, and Concord said in a recent year-end update that they are expecting Hillside East, which consists of a 45-storey and 55-storey building, to be completed this fall.
The Butterfly
The Butterfly at 1019 Nelson Street. (Westbank / Revery Architecture)
Location: 1019 Nelson Street, Vancouver
Developer: Westbank Corporation
The expansive Sen̓áḵw development may have garnered quite a bit of attention in 2022, but Westbank and Revery Architecture's other project, The Butterfly, will likely find itself in the spotlight as it nears its Fall 2023 completion date.
The Butterfly, located between Nelson Park and Robson Square, will be 57 storeys, with one-, two- and three-bedroom units between floors five and 52, and penthouses up above. As part of the project, the adjacent First Baptist Church, originally built in 1911, is also being restored and upgraded.
Emerald Gardens
Emerald Gardens. (Allure Ventures)
Location: 10955 City Parkway, Surrey
Developer: Allure Ventures
Located near Gateway Station of the SkyTrain's Expo Line, Allure says the Emerald Gardens is the largest single residential development in Surrey. And with a total of 957 residential units spanning over 1M sq. ft across three high-rises reaching 30 to 40 storeys, it's not hard to see why.
Allure Ventures says it expects to finish the three-tower development sometime this year.
Landmark on Robson
Left: The Empire Landmark Hotel (Colin Knowles / Flickr). Right: Landmark on Robson (Asia Standard Americas)
Location: 1400 Robson Street
Developer: Asia Standard Americas
The site of this development was once the 42-storey Empire Landmark Hotel, home to the famous Cloud 9 revolving restaurant at the top of the building. The hotel was then demolished floor-by-floor -- rather than via an implosion -- beginning in May 2018 in the tallest voluntary demolition of a building in Vancouver's history.
In its place will be the Landmark on Robson, a 31-storey and 32-storey residential complex with 241 units, many of which will boast 270-degree views of Coal Harbour, English Bay, and Stanley Park. According to one of the partners on the project, Magnum Projects, Landmark is expected to be completed in late-2023, but possibly early-2024.
