Though the top looks quite similar to the Shangri-la this is still quite impressive. Definitely something different than we're used to in Canada. Way go Vancouver!

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vasn/20050607/243690-82784.jpg

Erickson touch on tower
Three-surface building would be Vancouver's second-tallest

Frances Bula
Vancouver Sun

June 7, 2005

VANCOUVER - An Arthur Erickson-designed skyscraper that promises to be Vancouver's most unusual and striking building is on its way to city hall for approval.

The slim, elegant, glass-covered building rises from its triangular base to its summit in a way that gives the 167-metre tower -- which would be the city's second highest after the Shangri-La across the street -- a sense of grace and movement.

The tower will appear to twist 45 degrees from bottom to top. Each floor will be offset 0.75 of a degree from the one below.

"We wanted to do something as simple, as straightforward, and as structurally honest as possible," said Erickson, who was brought in to help with the design after the first plan for the building at 1133 West Georgia was unanimously rejected by the city's urban design panel three months ago.

Now, Erickson, working with the original team at Musson Cattell Mackey, is back with a design that appears to respond to all the criticisms of the first design.

The surfaces on the three faces of the building, which create an optical illusion that the building is actually bending, are what Erickson calls "hyperbolic paraboloids" -- a technique that employs nothing but straight lines, yet the surface is curved.

When the first design of the building came to the urban-design panel in March panel members said it was disappointing and ordinary for what would be a prominent building. Panel members said the building, which consisted of a kind of inverted glass vase shape that flared out at the top, set on a stone base, was too broken up and that it should have simple, straight lines going from top to bottom to emphasize the building's height. It was also criticized for lack of "green" considerations.

Erickson's design emphasizes the vertical lines of the building, replaces the stone base with glass, and incorporates elements like solar tubes on the roof to help cut the building's power demands by up to 30 per cent. It also opens up half the small, mid-block lot to a public plaza in one part, which would be lit at night by fibre-optic lights embedded in the pavement, and an enclosed "palm court" in another part.

Developer Simon Lim, for whom this is the first major project in Vancouver, said he recognizes that he will also have to negotiate with the city about other public amenities that need to be provided.

In the unique universe of Vancouver development, where there appears to be a limitless demand for downtown condos, the city's planning department extracts considerable benefits from developers in exchange for permission to build higher than what normal zoning would allow. Developers of the Shangri-La tower on the other wide of West Georgia ended up giving $12 million in benefits that included everything from an outdoor public art gallery to restoration of the heritage church next door to money for the city's housing fund.

Lim's tower would be almost double the normal density allowed for that site. He is planning to buy 200,000 square feet of heritage density, a mechanism the city uses to allow owners of heritage buildings to sell off imaginary space in order to help pay for the costs of preserving Vancouver's small stock of older buildings. It's widely expected that Lim will buy much or all of the space being generated by the Woodward's project, on which he was an unsuccessful bidder.

The base looks interersting. Other than that, I don't like it. I way prefer the Shangria-La tenfold.

i think it's interesting...

Regardless of other people's opinions, it's tough to admit that this isn't your standard design for North America. Personally, I believe that this is a very interesting tower to look at. The view from the ground looking up will be veeery interesting.

I LOVE it Go Vancouver!!!

I scanned this out of the paper, you can see it a bit better at this size. I think this proposal is much better than the last one, definatly a landmark! Did anyone catch the part about the "Palm Court" proposed for the base of the building? Sounds interesting

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/836201016.jpg

Much better! Thanks.

I do like this one better. The original scheme looked like a mini-Ritz Toronto.
This is more unique.

But how the hell can they design a building so fast? The earlier scheme was rejected only a couple months ago. Makes me wonder why they didn't use this plan in the first place.

I like this one too. It's a great daring design. Hope it goes forward!

I like this better than the first design. I like the "twisting" of the tower, definately unique.

Well I wouldnt call it terribly unique, one like that is currently being built in Malmo...its still damn nice though

The Malmo one.
http://img134.echo.cx/img134/2432/4100249841002498finished23co.jpg

I meant that it is unique compared to the other buildings in Vancouver's skyline.

Definitely an awesome tower. Hope it gets approved.

It looks like the Shangri-La with a twist

can't wait for graphic renderings!

It almost looks like it's leaning.

Actually Dr Joe that building isnt being built in Malmo sweden but just outside of it, in Denmark. (I know the Danes are proud of this one so you have to give credit where it is due).

Wow, I like it, a perfect fit for Vancouver with a decent height to boot! Was this the project that was rejected a few months ago?

Wow, I like it, a perfect fit for Vancouver with a decent height to boot! Was this the project that was rejected a few months ago?

yes, it was the rejected project a few months ago that we were all mad over it.

^^The Turning Torso is in Malmö, Sweden. http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/?id=100854

Man that is one cool tower! Very unique indeed. Also nice to see your two tallest towers right by eachother. Should really stand out in the skyline

thats looks quite neat

Great contrast, would make the area more visually exciting.

I really like it

that's different...
and not bad, hopefully it gets approved

that is absolutely incredible! Montreal needs some new towers like this

I love that building!

i like it more than the one in Malmo

The skyline will look even more incredible with the addition of this tower, as well as Shangri-la!

What an amazing looking building. Are there any pictures of how it will fit into Vancouver's skyline?

Looks fantastic. I hope they don't opt to go with the green-tinted glass.

What an amazing looking building. Are there any pictures of how it will fit into Vancouver's skyline?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/touraccuracy/skylinerender.jpg

I added some stuff onto a rendering that was posted a while ago. Sorry, it sucks! I don't know which way it or Shangri-La will face. It will probably be taller than shown... oh well.

Did'nt know Shangri-la was that much taller than this tower.
btw, what's that tower that's blackish in colour a bit to the left of the shangi-la (the one rising above the portion of the harbourfront with the green roof building)? Nice look as well.

Thats Bental 4 I think, TD logo on top.

No, the actually right in front of it. Too the left and in front of TD & too the right and in front of RBC (i think)

I like it. Like a previous post said, it will be neat standing at the base and looking up at it.

awesome diagram touraccuracy.

I like it too.

No, the actually right in front of it. Too the left and in front of TD & too the right and in front of RBC (i think)
that is the Shaw Tower. It was finished sometime last year

the world is gonna fall in love with us in 2010. :D

That's fantastic!

Very cool.....but please no more green! ;)

THE CITY'S URBAN PANEL HAS APPROVED IT!



Erickson tower called 'stunning, evocative'

Frances Bula
Vancouver Sun


Thursday, June 09, 2005

VANCOUVER - A unique new "twisted" tower that was called "a revolution not an evolution" got enthusiastic and unanimous approval from Vancouver's urban-design panel Wednesday.

Panel members called the Arthur Erickson-designed tower for West Georgia Street -- a slim, triangular building that rotates 45 degrees between its base and its roof -- stunning, evocative, and a beautiful "feminine" match to the more masculine, slightly taller Shangri-La tower that will be built across the street.

The two structures, both destined for the 1100 block of West Georgia, are currently the city's two tallest planned buildings.

The scene in Vancouver city hall's committee room 1 Wednesday was radically different from what happened three months earlier, when developer Simon Lim, along with architects Mark Whitehead and Mark Thompson, presented their first plan for the 167-metre tower.

Then, it was savaged by a special design panel that included both local and out-of-town members, which left Lim and the architects feeling seriously beaten up by the end.

However, within a few weeks, the city's most powerful realtor and unpaid urban designer, Bob Rennie, wooed Arthur Erickson into joining the team, and he and developer Ian Gillespie, who is building the Shangri-La across the street, encouraged Lim to try again.

This time, the reviews were consistently glowing for the new design and several members commented on how spectacularly the team had responded to criticism, not by trying to patch up an inherently weak design, but by going back to the drawing board and starting over.

"It's not an evolution, it's a revolution," said panel member Shahla Bozorgadeh, a comment that was echoed by chair Alan Endall when he summed up the remarks.

Architect Peter Wreglesworth, among others, commended the team on picking themselves up after a "rough go."

"The solution is bold and decisive and evocative, he said.

Everyone agreed that the tower's design earned the developer the right to the extra density he is seeking on the site.

fbula@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2005

^

:banana::dance::banana:

^ NO DOUBT

That is such good news! It sounds like this thing is going to get approved from the positive buzz its recieving! I wonder how early construction could start, and when a finish date may be?? I'm guessing 2009 for completion

If they want to finish this by the time the Olympics are here, they better start building in late 2006 or early 2007.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/touraccuracy/skylinerender.jpg

I added some stuff onto a rendering that was posted a while ago. Sorry, it sucks! I don't know which way it or Shangri-La will face. It will probably be taller than shown... oh well.
i just realised something. What is that crane behind the Shaw Tower for???

^It is for Shaw Tower, the photo was taken before the tower was completed so I put the Shaw Tower rendering on top of the partially completed building.

THE CITY'S URBAN PANEL HAS APPROVED IT!


I've been saving this....

:cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber:
:drunk::drunk::drunk::drunk::drunk::drunk::drunk:
:rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::nocrook::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock::rock:
:righton: :righton: :righton: :righton: :righton: :righton: :righton: :righton:
:pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper:
:dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2::dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2: :dance2:
:banana2::banana2::banana2::banana2::banana2::banana2::banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2:
:naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty:
:dj: :dj: :dj: :dj: :dj: :dj: :dj: :dj: :dj:
:dance2::dance::dance2:
:carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

With the olympics coming this is sure to become a world landmark!!! Good for vancouver!!!

the world is gonna fall in love with us in 2010. :D

lol, i think your probebly right.

i love this building very unique, i love the designe its beautifull!! anybody who doesnt like this has no eye for art or true beauty!

I cant wait to see this get built! :cucumber: :cucumber: :cucumber: :banana: :banana: :banana: :rock: :rock: :rock: :nocrook: :nocrook: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :applause: :applause: :applause: :righton: :righton: :righton: :okay: :okay: :pepper: :pepper: :pepper: :cheers1: :cheers1: :dance2: :dance2: :banana2: :banana2: :banana2:

Breathtaking! Can't wait to see it along with Shangri-la when I come for the Olympics! :cheers:

Great News!
It doesnt look like a typical condo or hotel tower, I just love it.

Did'nt know Shangri-la was that much taller than this tower.
btw, what's that tower that's blackish in colour a bit to the left of the shangi-la (the one rising above the portion of the harbourfront with the green roof building)? Nice look as well.

It's the Shaw tower.

Here's a better rendering:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/529/28vancouver-shawtower-aerial.jpg

And some pics:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/529/3309dcp_3112__large_.jpg
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/529/5193pinkskyline042c.jpg

I wouldn't mind if this tower taller.

With the olympics coming this is sure to become a world landmark!!! Good for vancouver!!!

I doubt a world landmark, its a crazy building though.

I doubt a world landmark, its a crazy building though.

true..now if it was 300m tall then i think it would be

true..now if it was 300m tall then i think it would be

Not really (I'm not knocking this building or anything), but there's a lot of 300m+ buildings with better architecture or worse architecture than this and they aren't worldwide landmarks, towers and buildings don't just become landmarks right away, it takes time,appreciation, and acknowledgement for the tower for it to be a landmark.

The tower would definetely get a lot of attention during the Games, but I doubt it would become a world landmark. If anything is to become a landmark because of 2010, it would be Canada Place (building with sails).

It's the Shaw tower.

Here's a better rendering:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/529/28vancouver-shawtower-aerial.jpg

And some pics:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/529/3309dcp_3112__large_.jpg
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/529/5193pinkskyline042c.jpg


Thanks, great looking tower, just seemed to strike me for some reason

Not really (I'm not knocking this building or anything), but there's a lot of 300m+ buildings with better architecture or worse architecture than this and they aren't worldwide landmarks, towers and buildings don't just become landmarks right away, it takes time,appreciation, and acknowledgement for the tower for it to be a landmark.

yeah....i guess your right, still..a 300m version of this building would be AMAZING looking!

Well you never know...this maybe a building that becomes a landmark. TV networks are obviously going to show off Vancouver during the olympics, and there going to show the most interesting buildings. ie this one!!! So never say never

^ good point. and I guess we should look at Sydney. the Olympics made the harbour bridge and its annual fireworks display world known.

^ thats exactly what i was thinking!!! The harbour bridge is a great example.

^ thats exactly what i was thinking!!! The harbour bridge is a great example.

There will be 3 billion pairs of eyes staring at Vancouver every day for three weeks.....I'm sure this twisting tower isn't the only thing that is gonna be made popular. We've got a ton more things in the city........Stanley Park will become another Central Park, the Lions Gate Bridge and maybe the Burrard Bridge would become another Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Canada Place would finally be another Sydney Opera House.

False Creek is gonna become quite popular........and BC Place Stadium as well (only if we don't implode the stadium after the Games).

Can someone tell me more information about the Fringe towers? I was looking at emporis and saw that it was a 80 floor tower planned for Vancouver. They didnt have any render or anything though. Anyone got anymore info? Maybe A render?

Sorry not planned, propsed.

Can someone tell me more information about the Fringe towers? I was looking at emporis and saw that it was a 80 floor tower planned for Vancouver. They didnt have any render or anything though. Anyone got anymore info? Maybe A render?

Many say that that building was a publicity stunt for the Fringe Festival. I still believe its not a publicity stunt, but my faith is billowing as a lot of time has passed since the idea was announced....hopefully, Erickson is serious.

^^^

most likely was...still if it turns out to be true in the future then that would be awsome!

There will be 3 billion pairs of eyes staring at Vancouver every day for three weeks.....I'm sure this twisting tower isn't the only thing that is gonna be made popular. We've got a ton more things in the city........Stanley Park will become another Central Park, the Lions Gate Bridge and maybe the Burrard Bridge would become another Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Canada Place would finally be another Sydney Opera House.

False Creek is gonna become quite popular........and BC Place Stadium as well (only if we don't implode the stadium after the Games).


dude i'd love for this to happen but you're living in a fantasy world.



We got the WINTER olympics. Sydney had the SUMMER olympics. Go ahead and name off a few landmarks that you now know from Salt Lake City, Nagano, Lillihamer, Sarajevo, etc.

dude i'd love for this to happen but you're living in a fantasy world.



We got the WINTER olympics. Sydney had the SUMMER olympics. Go ahead and name off a few landmarks that you now know from Salt Lake City, Nagano, Lillihamer, Sarajevo, etc.
It's true that the winter olympics won't have nearly as many viewers as the summer olympics, but still before each of those cities hosted I had no idea how beautiful they actually were (or even where they were in the case of Nagano and Lillihammer). It will really depend upon how the city presents itself.

It's true that the winter olympics won't have nearly as many viewers as the summer olympics, but still before each of those cities hosted I had no idea how beautiful they actually were (or even where they were in the case of Nagano and Lillihammer). It will really depend upon how the city presents itself.

well certainly and we can expect a similar reaction to vancouver.

I'm not saying the city will get NO exposure. Certainly teh skyline will probably become known to many people - just those that idly end up on NBC briefly. THe olympic flame around BC place will be memorable.


But just don't expect stanley park to enter the vocabularly of great parks, or the lions gate bridge to become world-renowned, or any of those things.

Awesome building. Congrats to Vancouver

well certainly and we can expect a similar reaction to vancouver.

I'm not saying the city will get NO exposure. Certainly teh skyline will probably become known to many people - just those that idly end up on NBC briefly. THe olympic flame around BC place will be memorable.


But just don't expect stanley park to enter the vocabularly of great parks, or the lions gate bridge to become world-renowned, or any of those things.

I think Stanley Park already is one of the worlds great parks. The Winter Olympics are the second most watch sporting event after the Summer Games and befor the World Cup, we are still talking hundereds of millions of viewers and I personaly like the Winter Games much more then the summer games. Vancouver is already known across the english speaking world as a beautiful place, but 2010 people from all parts of the world will see just how beautiful.

And although there may not be prolonged (in terms of time) shots of the skyline, the skyline will be shown a lot in smaller amounts of time. Which will give more people a chance to see it, and the more times they see it, the more it will stick in peoples minds. Thats why comercials on tv are not 5 min each, because they know that the smaller and shorter ones will stay in peoples heads. Uhhh...does that make any sense??? I hope so.

dude i'd love for this to happen but you're living in a fantasy world.



We got the WINTER olympics. Sydney had the SUMMER olympics. Go ahead and name off a few landmarks that you now know from Salt Lake City, Nagano, Lillihamer, Sarajevo, etc.

SLC - the cathedral at the Medal Ceremonies Venue.

Lillehammer, Sarajevo - they had nothing.


Vancouver is the first time ever that a world class city is hosting the Winter Olympics and its also by far the most populated host city and region. Weve got a lot of landmarks to offer to the world, unlike other past host cities.

Vancouver better not screw the Olympics up. That would be horribly embarrasing. I hope they will be extremely successful.

Vancouver better not screw the Olympics up. That would be horribly embarrasing. I hoping they will be extremely successful.


I think the security personnel and budget needs to be doubled. It's very risky to just run on a army of 12,000 security guards and a budget of CDN$180 million for the Olympic Games.

Vancouver is the first time ever that a world class city is hosting the Winter Olympics and its also by far the most populated host city and region. Weve got a lot of landmarks to offer to the world, unlike other past host cities.

Its also the biggest by far. Calgary was the biggest city to host the games with a then population of 800,000; by 2010 Vancouver will be almost 2.5million. The Winter Olympics are better marketed now because in the 1980's the winter Olympics were over shawdowed by the summer games.

I think for the olympics the news media always look for great shots of the host city in order to keep their viewers interested. Everybody's used to seeing beautiful natural mountain scenery for the winter olympics; hopefully this time Vancouver will be a little different since Vancouver has a big CBD close to the mountains plus lots of water. Maybe it'll make us stand out. :)

Its also the biggest by far. Calgary was the biggest city to host the games with a then population of 800,000; by 2010 Vancouver will be almost 2.5million. The Winter Olympics are better marketed now because in the 1980's the winter Olympics were over shawdowed by the summer games.

The next host, Turin, is not small either; population: 857,433.

Vancouver better not screw the Olympics up. That would be horribly embarrasing. I hoping they will be extremely successful.

After the logo fiasco, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. ;)

^yeah, me too.

After the logo fiasco, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. ;)
i totaly agree

I love the design! Waveform architecture rocks!

SLC - the cathedral at the Medal Ceremonies Venue.


you don't even know what it's called. That's my point.

lol thats funny^^^

Don't judge the olympics by that logo. I'm sure Vancouver will hold a magnificiant olympics. And it will help the city so much in international exposure and infrastructure building. Only thing I would be worried about is cost, but then again, even if it goes over, you have to consider all that was built because of those costs and see if in that case it was worth it.

Oh by the way, Toronto2020!! I can dream can't I

^ Hey the USA did it in 1996 with Atlanta and again in 2002 with Salt lake thats way less then 10 years.

Hey, another Turning Torso copy. :) I love the design of this tower, is it approved yet? TT is cooler though. ;)

Hey, another Turning Torso copy. :) I love the design of this tower, is it approved yet? TT is cooler though. ;)

It has been approved by the city's urban design panel, it still has to go through city council. I think it'll be approved, the city really enthusiastic about this project and is even suggesting the tower could be taller.

Lillehammer, Sarajevo - they had nothing.


I wouldnt exactly say that. In those times, the focus was not so much on the cities as it was in the events. Indeed, there are plenty of historical/interesting places in Sarajevo/Lillehammer that are very unique. I know from personal experience that Sarajevo is a very picturesque city with breathtaking scenery and buildings, but it was not really showcased in the west due to being percieved as a communist bloc country (which it was not). In general, I hardly ever saw any city being showcased much before the Sydney olympic games on tv/media (even Atlanta 1996).

Actually Dr Joe that building isnt being built in Malmo sweden but just outside of it, in Denmark. (I know the Danes are proud of this one so you have to give credit where it is due).

Sorry jada, but Turning Torso IS located in Malmö in Sweden, not Denmark (but since there are only a few km of water between Malmö and Copenhagen, the Danes can easily see the tower too), but I bet they are (almost) as proud as us, since it's a part of a Danish/Swedish area, Öresund.
Oh, and that tower doesn't look bad at all :)