Welcome to Part 4 of our Coming Soon series! In this instalment, we continue the trend of reporting on projects coming to the False Creek Flats neighbourhood. Some projects, like Tesoro by Concert, are near completion while others (The Archetype by QuadReal) are just beginning. This chapter focuses mostly on residential, but there’s a twist to some of these developments: they seek to reinvigorate the Flats’ artistic and artisanal past with modernized spaces.
The Archetype by QuadReal & Hungerford
The Archetype is a new development being constructed in the False Creek Flats neighbourhood. Developed by QuadReal and Hungerford Properties, and designed by GBL Architects. Starting construction in 2021, Archetype is expected to be completed by 2025 and will bring an interesting mix of residential, office and ‘creative industrial.’ This is a great multi-functional development which is being termed a “False Creek Flats’ first tri-mix development.”
Boasting 200 ‘amenity-rich’ purpose-built rental homes, the Archetype offers residents private balconies with metal cladding and boutique, top-grade finishings. Residents of the rental homes will have private access to amenities, such as a rooftop garden space. As the area grows, residents will soon be able to take advantage of a planned SkyTrain station nearby.
QuadReal is going to deliver 69,000 sq. ft. of AAA office space on 8 levels in the Archetype. Not only that, this office space is going to adhere to LEED® Gold Core & Shell specifications. The offices will have 11-foot ceilings and be subdivided into smaller strata offices. Column placing is described as “unobtrusive” to allow better flexibility to the tenants’ needs.
Offices on the 7th and 11th floors benefit from private balconies. Parking will be allocated at a rate of 1 stall per 1,000 sq. ft. with additional dedicated stalls available for purchase.
While the offices offer what the average business would expect of brand-new office spaces, there’s a great amenity dedicated to workers in the building. On the roof of the office building is a common amenity lounge replete with soft seating, a kitchen featuring keg tap, movable whiteboards and bar seating. There’s a 40-person meeting room which will be great for hosting all-hands meetings. Archetype is seeking to create something more akin to a coworking space. The idea is to initiate more social interactions between office tenants and creative industrial tenants in this space exclusive to workers at Archetype. There’s even an outdoor patio roof deck with a barbecue area perfect for get-togethers and events.
Another office amenity is an End-of-Trip facility with drying racks, bike storage lockers, private shower and change facilities so commuters can start the day feeling comfortable. This is important given Vancouver’s propensity for rain.
‘Creative Industrial’ is an interesting term, but it’s a logical one for the area’s history. In the southern False Creek Flats neighbourhood, there are quite a few mid-rise buildings which advertise themselves as artist lofts. These are zoned as I-3 Industrial District, but allow users to both live and work in the same property, without going through the home-based business (HBB) process. Most of these buildings are from the 1980s and 1990s, such as Artworks, The Mecca, Main Space and Artech.
The Archetype as Creative Industrial evokes this history for a new generation, with purpose-built units already zoned as FC-2 Commercial to allow both makers and vendors to operate in the ground-level units. The Creative Industrial units offer 15 to 20 ft. ceilings, with mezzanine levels in the units under the office building – perfect for a cafe wanting more seating space. There’s even 4 B-class loading zones at grade for medium-sized delivery trucks, with 2 A-class loading zones in P1 parking level.
Status: In progress.
1551 Quebec Street – Tesoro by Concert
One of Concert’s newest luxury condo developments on False Creek’s waterfront is Tesoro. Designed by ZGF Architects in collaboration with both Rafii Architects and Richard Henry Architect Inc. Tesoro is the final piece of a long-developing collection of buildings known as The Creek. This building sits on the border between Vancouver’s Olympic Village and False Creek Flats neighbourhood.
Boasting 91 residential units across 17 storeys, the building will have a secured underground parking garage with more than 155 parking stalls. Units will be configured with two bedrooms or more. Of the 91 units, there are 4 townhomes and 4 penthouses. The development’s positioning affords a variety of views: city, ocean and mountains. Tesoro’s uniquely curved façade stands out from other buildings in the area as it presents an organically structural form softened by natural elements and curated landscaping – to which some 20,000 sq. ft. of property will be dedicated as park space. Additionally, Concert is seeking to furnish the development with interesting pieces of sculptural and experimental art to elevate the luxurious experience of living there.
Residents of Tesoro can expect alluring & luxurious amenities such as:
- Fireside lounge
- Hot and cold plunge pools
- Sauna
- Steam room
- Fitness centre
- Amenity patio with BBQ and outdoor kitchen
- 20,000 sq. ft. park space with reflecting pool
The western side of Tesoro will flank the forthcoming East Park which extends from Science World into Olympic Village.
Status: Tesoro is in the process of being completed.
The Raphael by Cape Group, 338 East 2nd Avenue
A mixed-use, 5-storey building at 338 E 2nd Ave called The Raphael is promising an interesting addition to the False Creek Flats neighbourhood. The developers of the project, Cape Group, hopes to bring 95 rental homes with two levels of underground parking designed for artists and creatives to the area. Designed by Human Studio Architecture + Urban Design, the building will incorporate functional features which are designed with artists and creatives in mind.
Quote block: Called ‘The Raphael,’ the proposed 95-unit apartment complex is named in honour of Ralph James, the late founder and owner of Ralph’s Autobody, which opened its first location on the site in 1961. According to the proposal, “the James family wishes to see the history of the site retained as part of the story of the building, while the land is used to contribute to the vibrant, arts-focused community as much needed rental housing.”
To accommodate this desire for fostering a vibrant, arts-focused community, the developers are intending to incorporate alterations to specific building features in order to make homes more functional for artists. Some of these are spatial, such as oversized elevators and extra-wide hallways to allow artists to move art pieces and supplies. Others are more cultural, such as designated spaces inside the building for art installations, or a multi-purpose room (with proper ventilation and 220-volt outlets) serving as gallery or workshop which can allow for working, socializing and hosting events or art shows on-premises.
The ground floor will offer 10,000 sq. ft. of retail space – perfect for a long-term tenant like Lordco, which previously occupied the site. There are also plans to have two artist studios for artists in residence, operated through Grunt Gallery.
Follow the development of The Raphael at Shape Your City.
The Sophia by Cape Group, 304 East 1st Avenue
The Sophia is another purpose-built rental housing project by the Cape Group, just one block away from The Raphael. This building is also mixed-use with 4,500 sq. ft. retail space on the ground floor, daycare space on the second floor, and finally 96 rental units above.
The daycare space is expected to have 56 spaces and an outdoor play area facing the south. Vancouver, much like the rest of Canada, has always seen a crunch on daycare capacity despite efforts by various levels of government to increase space. This daycare will be a welcome addition to the area.
Residents of the 96 rental homes will have access to an amenity lounge on the second floor, and a rooftop garden on the ninth floor. Most homes will have private balconies, while micro units (allowable under zoning specific to False Creek Flats) will have Juliet balconies. Resident amenities at The Sophia – other than the rooftop garden on the ninth floor – include a lounge room, outdoor barbecue and dining area, children’s play area with a ‘Cozy Dome’ activity centre, and community garden plots.
Designed by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, the Sophia is intended to be a transit-focused building, with a possible transit pass subsidy for residents, along with a bike share program. Additional environmental considerations are being taken with the construction. Echoing the nearby Prototype/M5, this building will also be a mass timber construction above the third floor. Mass timber construction involves substituting carbon-intensive materials like concrete and steel in place of engineered wood products. The exterior of the building will however be mostly metal and glass, to evoke the area’s industrial heritage.
Follow the ongoing progress on The Sophia by Cape Group at the Shape Your City website.
