hey, im sure a lot of you know about the azure plaza zoned in new westminster, it comprises of 3 buildings, 1 that has already started construction. anyone work at this site, is anyone able to get construction progress photos of this place? any artist renderings? i show such interest seeing how this is going to be new westminsters tallest building, and one of the tallest outside downtown vancouver. thnx guys

its coming along - the last time i was there a couple of months ago i was surprised at the progress

Haven't seen any pics. The CB Richard Ellis retail report for year end 2006 noted this:

In New Westminster, Michael Degelder’s mixed-use project “Azure at Plaza 88” is under construction on the first of four towers, which will
include up to 200,000 SF of retail and 3,500 residential units. The development will integrate the elevated Skytrain system with a major
shopping and residential complex. The retail development will be anchored by a 37,500 SF Safeway, a 17,500 SF drugstore, and an 11,600
SF liquor store.

Spoke too fast - found these at Flickr by DennisSylvesterHurd dated December 2006:

http://flickr.com/photos/dennissylvesterhurd/tags/plaza88/

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/340038786_1f93917ba7.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/318986751_6471a6b17d.jpg?v=0

It is much higher now than in those flikr pics. I go by almost everyday on the skytrain, it is higher than the guideway now for sure. I will try and snap a pic on my way home today.

nice pics officedweller

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/533770.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/477114-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/Picture.jpg


http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/index.html

http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/image01.jpg

http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/image02.jpg

http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/image03.jpg

http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/image04.jpg

http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/image05.jpg

http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/image06.jpg

http://www.via-architecture.com/projects/plaza88/image07.jpg

The three tower project will eventually include a 4th and 5th tower and a significant amount of retail space adjacent to the New West Skytrain station.

Construction updates I took in July:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00995.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00996.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00994.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00998.jpg


Credits to Vanman of SSP

Latest Photo from Salmafan:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee187/salmafan/IMG_00012.jpg

It's really coming along nicely.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/TallBuildings018.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/TallBuildings021.jpg

Swallowing the skytrain station.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/TallBuildings027.jpg

Unfinished end of the podium.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/TallBuildings029.jpg

Damned tall for New West.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/TallBuildings037.jpg

^^ Nice towers!

New West is really densifying. The one thing I like about this area is that its the only place outside of the Vancouver CBD that feels established with its own downtown core. It know its because it has a history...one that even pre-dates Vancouver; however, to live in New West, one isn't sentenced to that feeling that they're from the burbs....at least not to the same extent as neighboring cities which are more like mall clusters at best. I'd move her if I could convince myself that the Fraser River was Burrard Inlet. LOL I'm kidding, the Fraser has its merits but its potential isn't quite used to full effect.

If New West could just work on decking its railways and build more commercial office space over them....I think it will be a prime future area to live in Metro Vancouver. I already see the writing on the wall now ... and best still, its not terribly expensive YET.

Well that's very true, and I know I heard fairly recently that the city has been buying up land along the tracks which is supposed to be turned into a park or something similar. If such a thing were undertaken the tracks would have to be taken care of, at the very least more pedestrian overpasses and some beautification efforts on both sides.

It really is a nice little city, been here a year and despite the crackheads and prozzies it's definitely got a sense of community distinct from the places around it. Also some lovely "old" houses and buildings. I don't know about "not terribly expensive", I do know a house I was looking at was going for over $800,000. To (broke) me that's still terribly expensive...

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/TallBuildings021.jpg
I like the curved ends, but the flat sides with the punched hole windows look like they could be a commie block from mississauga. These towers are too big a jump in scale for its neighbourhood, just look at the aerial photographs. And I hate the fact there's an above-grade parking garage, though I think I've said that before many times...

I love New Westminster. I go through it twice a day on the Skytrain and it always amazes me how built up it is getting.

Yeah the above ground parking is a real turnoff especially since it won't really promote any new street level activity once it's open. Crime and the general look of that street are not going to be improved much. That area is coming along though; some of the buildings across from the site seem to be being fixed up, and there are some cooler businesses in the area now. There's an awesome pizza place right across the street, if anyone is in that area definitely give it a try...

A few new ones from 12th Feb

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/Update%2012th%20Feb/106.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/Update%2012th%20Feb/107.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/Update%2012th%20Feb/110.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/Update%2012th%20Feb/112.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/Update%2012th%20Feb/113.jpg

^^ Thanks for the update.

Thanks.
The floorplate / curtain wall is a bit different on that latest tower - the curtain wall rises two floor before there's a ledge, and from the close-up shots - it may not be as angular on the corners.

Yeah and it looks like it's going to be that way all the way up. Anybody know if those are perhaps two storey units or something? Maybe that's the fanciest of the three towers...

Or could just be cheaper to construct that way. Nice to have the variety though.

I love how words like "fanciest" or "variety" are somehow related to these behemoths, lol. You'd figure a place rich with history like New West would have a handle on scale and context... too bad :ohno:

I don't have much against the towers themselves, the rest of the area is lowrise slums and a few nicer condo towers and there are few (if any) buildings around it with any historical or aesthetic significance. It's that hideous six or seven level podium these things sit upon, I wouldn't mind if it contributed to the area with a bit of commercial space or some greenery but it's pretty much all just parking, it looks like crap at street level.

^ I believe it was the city of NW that required x amount of parking for x amount of units or something along those lines. I'm sure the developer would have rather not build 8 floors of parking on top of a freaking transit hub. The city really shit the bed on that one.

Yeah, if only someone could devise a system by which automobiles may be parked under the ground... Crazy talk I'm sure but perhaps one day...

They should emulate Vancouver, where parking can't be anything but below grade, even if it's a skinny infill condo with 10 units and a tiny site where u have to dig 3 stories to fit 20 parking spaces. I think that's what's happening with 1255 w Pender.

I think there's a high water table in that area - near the river.

I'm sure the water table could be an issue but there's another tower going in on the other side of Columbia closer to the river. The excavation for that must have been about 15m deep and its main floor appears rather free of parking spaces. I'd assume they're either underground or at the very least in an unobtrusive part of the tower's base. There must have been another way to go about providing enough parking without making the whole podium a huge eyesore.

That's what pumps are for. The Erickson is practically on the water, with most of the excavation below sea level.

Looks like they have started covering up the parking to make it look less conspicious.

Anyone know which retail stores have leased into the development and when the retail portion is scheduled to be completed?

ya the area is looking nice, didnt really get a chance to look around but i drive by it on occassion. ^^im also curious to know what retail is moving in

Yeah, you can't even tell that those are parking levels right now because its all been covered off. i believe Save-on foods is moving in there. They could also use some starbucks, subway and macdonalds. I'd really like to see this station become a stopover skytrain station. Right now, lougheed and metrotown are the only two stations with retail nearby.

who would buy a condo at or below the skytrain track level?

better it be parking than a condo

Yeah, you can't even tell that those are parking levels right now because its all been covered off. i believe Save-on foods is moving in there. They could also use some starbucks, subway and macdonalds. I'd really like to see this station become a stopover skytrain station. Right now, lougheed and metrotown are the only two stations with retail nearby.

Surrey Central is very close to Surrey Central City

They should emulate Vancouver, where parking can't be anything but below grade, even if it's a skinny infill condo with 10 units and a tiny site where u have to dig 3 stories to fit 20 parking spaces. I think that's what's happening with 1255 w Pender.

Except for Dolce on Seymour:ohno:

^^What??? I was looking forward to a multi-storey retail podium, haha. How did they justify it?

but won't it be retail at street with parking above that?

thats what it looks like

space for more cell phone stores

Can anyone who has already moved in comment as to whether there is any noise or vibrations from the skytrain?

Looks like work is going to get underway on the lowrise/plaza area on the other side of the skytrain.

Yeah, I'll break out my camera again soon and get a few updates on this thing and others if I remember. It's true the parking is mainly covered, but much the same way parkades are covered anywhere else, you can still tell what it is, just a tonne of parking spaces and nothing really added to the area itself.

Long time no see, Dude! Looking forward to see your photos again!

Almost dropped my camera throuh the metal fence when I took this, last week:

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j73/xapbpoh/DSCF0271.jpg

(Note the awning that projects out over the skytrain)

Yeah that awning is a very cool idea. Makes the station itself look old and drab by comparison...

Hey, YF thanks for the welcome back :) I'll see if I can get a few shots today I suppose, of this at least, maybe head downtown too...

Ok, these are mostly grainy, low light today and my camera does not like rain and clouds...

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00949.jpg

Toilets and supplies
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00951.jpg

Just took this one 'cause it looks like a middle finger...
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00953.jpg

Another view of the awning over the skytrain tracks
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00957.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00959.jpg

And now for a couple of the podium from Carnarvon St.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00961.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00962.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00964.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb295/van-arch/SSC%20Update%20251009/DSC00967.jpg

:lol: I love the middle finger pic!

Nothing new, just a nice view of the three amigos with the fall leaves:

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j73/xapbpoh/P1040766.jpg

Nice shot!

nice picture ,any more , we move in marinus in dec. love seeing pics.

love seeing pics.

Me too!

Me too!

dec.10 for us, been a long wait. but i am sure we will enjoy newwest .

More? Let's take a look...

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j73/xapbpoh/P1040769.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j73/xapbpoh/P1040777.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j73/xapbpoh/P1040763.jpg


BTW, machine123, how about posting some photos of the views from your new place when you move in? Must be pretty good.

^^ Nice pics again!




Machine123, welcome to ssc!

yes , will share a photo from our new home when we move. it will not be the best view but a good view from our deck.
(thanks yellow fever for the welcome)
really enjoy this site

it will not be the best view but a good view from our deck.

That's ok! a view is better than no view at all.

really enjoy this site

That's good. SSC is more quiet than compared to SSP, but is a lot less hectic. We welcome you with open arms.

Some new activity on the site on the opposite site of the skytrain tracks. Hopefully the lowrise element is starting as that area just looks like an awful tip at the moment.

From SpongeG @ SSP in September 18th 2010

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7294/dsc01242mj.jpg

Vanman @ SSP on September 26th 2010

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/texpressions/DSCF1725.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/texpressions/DSCF1780.jpg

Vanman November 11th 2010

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSCF4033.jpg

Posted today from SPORK on SSP
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/1666/cimg0062s.jpg
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5333/cimg0071z.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3374/cimg0063z.jpg
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/9757/cimg0058sf.jpg

It was said that the cool thing about this project is that Sky Train is worked right into the plans of this project, talk about easy living to get where your going, if your lucky enough to live in Plaza 88.

feels like this thing's been under construction forever, I drive past it everyday. Also in your second last photo where the white bus sits at the intersection I nearly ran the red light as I was confused by which light was my light as there was both a green and a red light visible to me.

This has been U/C for ever.