PROJECT VISION
Our vision for the building’s rehabilitation is to reimagine its identity as a gathering place for many downtown communities, with sustainable features attuned to the health of its occupants and the urban fabric that surrounds them.

PROJECT TIMELINE
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349 West Georgia Street
21 West Georgia Street 22 Dunsmuir Street
Quadreal & BentallGreenOak
Size sf
FSR
Height Limit ft
EXISTING STREETSCAPE
We will preserve its iconic heritage aspects, connecting them to Vancouver’s streetscape and creating new public spaces infused with its history. In doing so, the update creates new retail, office, residential, and public spaces designed to adapt to the current and future city core.

West Georgia Street

West Georgia Street

West Georgia Street

West Georgia Street
PROPOSAL

The largest heritage rehabilitation in Vancouver history.

Sustainable, targeting LEED Gold for office core and shell.

New public open space fronting Georgia St, with spaces to sit and interact.

Improvements to all four street façades to create a dynamic streetscape.

High-quality job space close to transit, creating a critical mass.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Main Post Office building is a steel-framed building, designed and constructed between 1953-58. It was a response to Vancouver’s new importance within a global network, requiring more efficient postal services. Designed by local firm McCarter Nairne & Partners in the International Style of architecture, its horizontal and vertical grid articulates its rectilinear volume, with sparse but high-quality embellishments. Featuring granite cladding at its base and concrete cladding above, it is punctuated by aluminum windows and terra cotta panels. Its original artworks include a carved granite bas-relief of a postman on its southwest corner and two interior murals.
The Main Post Office building was also significant as the largest building in the city and the largest welded steel frame structure in the world, with a floor area of nearly 688,890sf (64,000m2). Currently, the Main Post Office building is valued for its association with the modern development of Vancouver’s downtown core, its architectural features of the International Style, and its original artwork.


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Main Post Office building is a steel-framed building, designed and constructed between 1953-58. It was a response to Vancouver’s new importance within a global network, requiring more efficient postal services. Designed by local firm McCarter Nairne & Partners in the International Style of architecture, its horizontal and vertical grid articulates its rectilinear volume, with sparse but high-quality embellishments. Featuring granite cladding at its base and concrete cladding above, it is punctuated by aluminum windows and terra cotta panels. Its original artworks include a carved granite bas-relief of a postman on its southwest corner and two interior murals.
The Main Post Office building was also significant as the largest building in the city and the largest welded steel frame structure in the world, with a floor area of nearly 688,890sf (64,000m2). Currently, the Main Post Office building is valued for its association with the modern development of Vancouver’s downtown core, its architectural features of the International Style, and its original artwork.

CHARACTER-DEFINING ELEMENTS
ANALYSIS












1
Context plan

The site occupies an entire city block in Crosstown, bridging between the Downtown, Gastown, False Creek North, and Yaletown neighborhoods. It is bounded by W. Georgia St., Dunsmuir St., Hamilton St., and Homer St.
context aerial

Commercial buildings, significant open space, and a concentration of cultural and educational institutions surround the site. Its location between the Downtown Core, Yaletown, Gastown/Chinatown, and False Creek presents an opportunity to connect the neighborhoods that surround it.
Land use

The main office core of the city is to the west, while the residential foci are to the east (False Creek) and south (Yaletown) with new residential use planned around the stadia. The site is within four blocks of the two major downtown retail arteries of Robson Street and Pacific Centre, with hotels clustered in the downtown core towards the waterfront.
Business District Extension

With development pressure pushing east, the former Main Post Office building sits in an area of developing workspace activity. Currently, the Central Business District is typically zoned for 9-11 FSR developments, with the CBD shoulder around 7 FSR. The site sits in the middle of its extension.
Open Space

There are 12 public open spaces within a one-block radius of the site, with notable landmark spaces such as Cathedral Square, Victory Square, and Library Square nearby.
Parks

There are approximately 18 acres of park space within a 10-minute walk or 5-minute bicycle ride of the site, including the future Creekside Park expansion along False Creek.
Mass Transit Circulation

The site is well served by transit with two SkyTrain stations within short walking distance and bus amenities on all four fronting streets.
Pedestrian Circulation

While Dunsmuir St is currently a major artery into the city, few pedestrians use Dunsmuir St. The decline in pedestrian traffic reflects the reduced intensity of retail on Georgia to the east.
Bicycle Circulation

Dunsmuir St is a major cycle artery into the city, passing directly to the north of the site. Other nearby bicycle routes include the bike lanes on Pender St and Richards St.
Traffic Patterns

W Georgia St represents the “ceremonial entry approach” to Vancouver’s downtown from the east, resulting in constant vehicle traffic. Removal of the Dunsmuir viaduct will likely have an impact on traffic patterns around the site in the future.
View to site

The site is highly visible within the local urban landscape, due to the low-level institutional uses to the east of the site, the setback on W Georgia St, and open spaces on Dunsmuir St.
Development Trends

The former Main Post Office site acts as both catalyst and intersection point for expanding development trends in multiple downtown neighborhoods. The major development pressure is from Downtown (west), where zoning allows for up to 11 FSR. Secondary development trends come from Chinatown/Gastown (north), Yaletown (south), and False Creek (east).
DESIGN CONCEPT
URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES
URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Relationship to Surrounding Buildings
CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE

Eastern Gateway to the City

Neighborhood Densification
CONTEXTUAL RESPONSE
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RELATIONSHIP TO SURROUNDING BUILDINGS
Maximize key vantage points via existing adjacencies to the surrounding buildings. The corners become an important expression in developing an urban identity.
NEIGHBORHOOD DENSIFICATION
Development in the area around the Post Office has been characterized by increasing density, with projects in the 7.7-17.8 FSR range.
EASTERN GATEWAY TO THE CITY

With W Georgia St becoming a ceremonial approach into the city, the southeast corner of the building becomes a significant consideration.
PODIUM REHABILITATION







2 This will provide enough headroom to insert an entirely new parking level, doubling the amount of underground parking.
4 A lower trucking floor will be retained as commercial space for loading. Access to above and below-grade parking will be at this level off Hamilton St.
5 Small retail units and an office lobby on Dunsmuir St and Hamilton St will be created by building up the existing floor.
6 The existing lobby level will become accessible for office and restaurant space.
7 A “retail concourse” will be created with street-level connection along Homer St providing access to the upper and lower retail units.
8 An infill slab over the existing trucking floor will create accessible bicycle parking and necessary service areas.
10 The existing structure at the perimeter will be demolished to allow for the new levels at a grade below.
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Parking Levels

1 The existing floor slab will be lowered to the top of the existing footings, with necessary structural upgrades to the columns and footings.
2 This will provide enough headroom to insert an entirely new parking level, doubling the amount of underground parking.
Ground Floor

3 In the existing heritage structure, the lobby entrance on Georgia St. Is the only access at grade.
4 A lower trucking floor will be retained as commercial space for loading. Access to above and below-grade parking will be at this level off Hamilton St.
5 Small retail units and an office lobby on Dunsmuir St and Hamilton St will be created by building up the existing floor.
6 The existing lobby level will become accessible for office and restaurant space.
7 A “retail concourse” will be created with street-level connection along Homer St providing access to the upper and lower retail units.
8 An infill slab over the existing trucking floor will create accessible bicycle parking and necessary service areas.
Level 3

9 The existing high platform of the trucking floor will become a retail level. The trucking floor will be build-up to create a continuous floor level.
10 The existing structure at the perimeter will be demolished to allow for the new levels at a grade below.
Level 4

11 The existing level 3 floor will become a retail space.
Level 5

12 The existing mezzanines level above level 3 will be extended to support additional parking with office space along the north and south ends.
Level 6

13 The existing level 4 will become additional parking with office space along the north and south ends.
Level 7

14 The existing mezzanines above level 4 will be extended to create a full-level office floor, with skylights above.
PUBLIC REALM STRATEGY










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Heart of the Precinct

This area, known as Crosstown, is home to commercial buildings, significant open space, and a concentration of cultural and educational institutions. Our design of the streetscapes surrounding the building seeks to integrate the project with other open spaces in the area and act as a conduit between Yaletown and Gastown.
An urban room

Space is defined by the animated edges of the Post on Georgia, the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and the proposed future Art Gallery. These three key sites create a distinct urban space, a south-facing “urban room” at the heart of the precinct.
Urban design Principles - Movement

The building’s new identity stands on a foundation of urban design principles that aim for meaningful interaction with the precinct: enhancing movement, animating street edges, reinforcing a clear public identity, and creating permeable edges around the full block. Sustainability objectives are a part of these design principles also, woven through the proposal and visible as highly identifiable green spaces.
Urban design Principles - Animation

The building’s new identity stands on a foundation of urban design principles that aim for meaningful interaction with the precinct: enhancing movement, animating street edges, reinforcing a clear public identity, and creating permeable edges around the full block. Sustainability objectives are a part of these design principles also, woven through the proposal and visible as highly identifiable green spaces.
Urban design Principles - Public Identity

The building’s new identity stands on a foundation of urban design principles that aim for meaningful interaction with the precinct: enhancing movement, animating street edges, reinforcing a clear public identity, and creating permeable edges around the full block. Sustainability objectives are a part of these design principles also, woven through the proposal and visible as highly identifiable green spaces.
Urban design Principles - Permeable Edges

The sidewalk treatment will be standard saw cut broom finish concrete in the Georgia St “square” pattern, conforming to Georgia St guidelines. As such, it will fit seamlessly into the adjacent blocks, with an equal or greater pedestrian width. A row of new street trees, consistent with the guidelines, will be aligned with the grid of the building and further reinforce the continuity of the streetscape.
Urban design Principles - Prospect + Refuse

The building’s new identity stands on a foundation of urban design principles that aim for meaningful interaction with the precinct: enhancing movement, animating street edges, reinforcing a clear public identity, and creating permeable edges around the full block. Sustainability objectives are a part of these design principles also, woven through the proposal and visible as highly identifiable green spaces.
Sidewalk context

The sidewalk treatment will be standard saw cut broom finish concrete in the Georgia St “square” pattern, conforming to Georgia St guidelines. As such, it will fit seamlessly into the adjacent blocks, with an equal or greater pedestrian width. A row of new street trees, consistent with the guidelines, will be aligned with the grid of the building and further reinforce the continuity of the streetscape.
A legend of south facing steps

Vancouver’s south-facing stairs are a rare but invaluable civic amenity. We worked from our experience of the stairs at the Vancouver Art Gallery and Vancouver Public Library, which are found filled with people on sunny days. The opportunity to provide another great stair for the city is central to the thinking of the new public space on W Georgia St.
Architectural Expressions
Architectural
Expressions
STREET FACES
West Georgia Street & Homer Street
Dunsmuir St + Hamilton St


PUBLIC PLAZA
Active water features, plants, and extensive seating embellish a series of broad steps, traversing the grade differential toward Georgia St. at the front of the site. Dynamic lighting will be carefully integrated to express the site as an attractive and inviting new gateway into the city’s downtown, creating an atmosphere that encourages activity by both day and night.
Illuminated railings, water feature lighting, lighting integrated into the risers of the steps, and some feature lighting at the planter/bench at the corner of Georgia and Homer will enliven the space in the evening. Additional tree plantings, seating, and public art are woven into the design to further enrich the public realm.
A Entry Plaza
- An accessible route to office and retail in the building
- Landscape and seating elements
B Upper Plaza
- Indoor/outdoor restaurant terrace
C The Post ‘Steps’
- A great public seating place overlooking Georgia St. Formal planting, water channels, integrated lighting
D Lower Plaza
- Indoor/outdoor restaurant terrace
E West Georgia Street Sidewalk 19.5ft width
- Follows Georgia St Design Guidelines
F Homer St., Hamilton St., and Dunsmuir St. Sidewalks
- Standard city sidewalks with street trees

MASSING STRATEGY






Architectural Expression
Heritage Response
Compatible
Distinguishable
Subordinate
Compatible

The architectural expression of the base will inform the massing cues and material articulation of the new structures.
Distinguishable

The new elements are’ lifted’ above the base with a continuous setback at the podium roof, making them distinct from the exiting heritage structure.
Subordinate

A lighter expression of materials in the towers above maintains visual focus on the podium, and preserves the integrity of the heritage asset.
Material Articulation






Formal Clarity
Visual Sustainability
Active Roofs
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Formal Clarity
Visual Sustainability
Active roofs
Elevation Detail


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1

A grid expression bounded by an aluminum frame that echoes the podium, while deeper vertical mullions match heritage concrete mullions and establish verticality. Louvered sunshades extend along W Georgia, becoming a shallower solid shade on the Hamilton side.
2

Aluminum frames define a macro scale and echo the framing of the grid in the podium.
3

A frameless curtain wall creates a relief at the intersection of articulation in the massing.
4

Horizontal mullions define the massing towards the courtyard, and provide solar shading on the south face.
5

The atrium elements reference the solid panels in the podium base, providing a visual transition to the central courtyard and podium roof.
Overall Views




Overall Lighting Strategy
There are two guiding principles for the exterior lighting design:
Create a connection at night between the ground level, existing heritage podium, and the new towers above.
Gradiate the emphasis of lighting from the ground level pedestrian realm to the upper extent of the towers.
1 West Georgia St Plaza
2 Office Lobbies and Retail Concourse
LIGHTING DETAILS

8 Office Roof Decks
7 Sports Amenity Deck
3 Heritage Facade
4 New Towers
5 Hamilton St Media Facade
6 Podium Roof Decks

1 West Georgia st plaza
2 Office Lobbies and Retail Concourse
3 Heritage Facade
4 New Towers
5 Hamilton St Media Facade
6 Podium Roof Decks
7 Sports Amenity Deck
8 Office Roof Decks
Shadow Studies

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Summer Solstice | 14:00 PDT

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Sustainability
Public Amenities
Downtown Workplace Environment


Public Benefits
PUBLIC ENTRANCE DESIGN
Mix of Retail
Food Truck Provisions
Recycling Lounges
Office Roof Decks
Heritage Benefits
Benefits of Local Procurement
Sustainability Benefits
Transportation


Parking Innovation
Loading
Bicycle Amenities
Security, Separation + Accessibility
An Automated Parking Structure for Bicycles
Level 01
Street Level – Hamilton St
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2
3
4
5

Level 02
Street Level – Homer St
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2
3
4
5
6

SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN
Location and Transportation
Sustainable Sites
Active Roofs
Urban Agriculture
Water Use EfficiencyWater Use Efficiency
Building Envelope
Passive Shading
LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION
Lighting
Plumbing
Flexible Planning
Elevators
Building Materials
Indoor Environment


HERITAGE SUSTAINABILITY
HERITAGE ASSET
The energy saved is embodied in the existing concrete and steel, avoiding the energy costs and waste involved in demolition. The project will aim to reduce overall CO2 emissions, eutrophication, and the depletion of non-renewable energy resources.
