http://www.livingshangri-la.com/images/pinkOrchidLogo.jpg
http://www.livingshangri-la.com

The lower 15 floors will house the Shangri-La Hotel, the first Shangri-La location in North America. Hugely famous in Asia, it will likely have the highest room rates in Canada.

Standing 150 feet higher than Vancouver's current tallest building and ends in 2008, in time for 2010 olympics

Vancouver: Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts has signed a deal that will see 15 floors of the city's tallest tower made into an opulent, five-star luxury hotel. It is Shangri-La's first venture in North America. The full-service 120 guest rooms will all be between 500 and 750 square feet and will likely garner the city's highest room rates. The chain, with 42 hotel properties and 28 more in development, was attracted to Vancouver because of its reputation as an Asian gateway.

Locating in the city's new 642-foot high signature tower was an easy decision as the project is destined to be an instant landmark. The Shangri-La entry marks the first hotel brand to come to Canada in five years. CEO Giovanni Angelini says the chain is looking at expansion into other North American locations such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

CDN$350 million.

-Plans include a curated public sculpture garden.
-A 120-room hotel, including restaurants and spa, takes up the first 15 floors. General live-work homes (227 units) are on floors 16 to 42 and private access residential units on floors 43-59 (63 units) with penthouse on floor 60.
- The hotel guestrooms, averaging 550 square feet, are among the largest in Canada.
- Penthouse listed at $7.4 million (June 2005).
- During the height of construction activity 1,000 workers will be on site constructing 1 floor per week.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/28vancouver-1120westgeorgia-07.jpg
http://thehoddlegrid.net/dump/shangri-la-vcr.jpg
http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2005/05/361810.jpg
http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2003/09/221061.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/1_main.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/1120west.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/4288shangrila4b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/161120wgeorgia06.jpg
http://www.shangri-la.com/vancouver/shangri-la/en/images/3_map.gif

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
http://lvl.verttech.com/camera/1-1-1.jpg
http://www.nonstopdesign.com/shangrila/DSCN8643-740.jpg
http://www.nonstopdesign.com/shangrila/DSCN8641-740.jpg
http://www.nonstopdesign.com/shangrila/DSCN8640-740.jpg
http://www.nonstopdesign.com/shangrila/DSCN8637-740.jpg
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/525/1xy9.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Misc/1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/Vancouver20005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/339125259_0ce2fd637b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/close_shangrila20.jpg
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/9721/livingshangrila1rz4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/337450316_ac89fd01e9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/dsc01245vu3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/dsc01246ar5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/shang9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/shang5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/shang3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/shang1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7136.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7137.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7138.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7139.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7140.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7141.jpg
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/271/65894830bp6.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7188.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7189.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7191.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7202.jpg
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http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7206.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7207.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7226.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7227.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7228.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7235.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7237.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7240.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7242.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7269.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7380.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Construction/100_7381.jpg

http://nonstopdesign.com/fotos/DSCN0201-740

http://nonstopdesign.com/fotos/DSCN0202-750


Jameson House, Shangri-La, 1133 West Georgia
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/422036084416a524813brt0.jpg

http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/photos/2007/KICX4444.jpg


http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/photos/2007/KICX4445.jpg

I took the liberty of doing a quick and dirty composite of the two photos Tafyrn took.

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2618/shangrilaconstructioncokv2.jpg

http://www.kasuria.com/tafyrn/photos/2007/KICX4445.jpg

So sleek! This building is so sexy, yet it doesn't try too hard. Sleek lines and some nice frosted glass and it's got a nice presence just like that. :cheers:

OMG it's so amazing. Can't wait until it's finished...I'm going to go check it out in person as soon as I have a day off work.

My cousin is working on the site and told me I can get pics from top floor before its officially done if I like . I will post them ! :)

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMGP1689.jpg?t=1175467247
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMGP1690.jpg?t=1175467300
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMGP1725.jpg?t=1175467489

Wow, its coming along so nicely. I love the squares that change colour depending on where you look at them from. I LOVE this tower so much more than T.O's.

My cousin is working on the site and told me I can get pics from top floor before its officially done if I like . I will post them ! :)

Oh you better!

it's amazing how slow it seemed at first and now it seems to be sprouting by the day!!

I love it, BUT...

I would love to see some less translucent towers which almost become lost (although the height is pretty good) among the crowd. I hope to see some darker glass. Wall Centre stands out nicely, for example!

I love the glass.

I love that boxy portion that sticks out of the base. You can see it in the photo I quoted earlier in this page...

I love that boxy portion that sticks out of the base. You can see it in the photo I quoted earlier in this page...


I do too; it always adds interest when the base deviates from the tower.

This condo tower in TO that should begin construction soon is one I love because it bucks the trend of sheer glass, etc, and is very handsome IMO.

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/xcondosr.jpg

Is Vancouver ready for something like this?

Ready? To go back to the 70's? :)

^^ Why do you always post other, unrelated towers in threads? :ohno:

Most of us have seen "X" in the Toronto section. We know you like it, but that doesn't mean you need to share it with us just because you like it. I don't mean to sound harsh, but, that's how I feel.

Wow what a distinctive piece of architecture. I dont think were ready for anything that forward....

Oh wait we already have a building like that, its called TD Tower.

no thanks.

Thanfully you pieces of trash are not developers, but play them behind the computer screen!

Shangri-la is related to the...Fairmont Pacific Rim is related to the Shaw Tower is related to the...

Yea, I think Vancouver is ready for something a little more prominent, a little more bold. A slender, sleek, dark tower would be a nice rest from the repetition of (see above)

That dark tower's not bad, but more suited to office space IMHO.

And what's with the insults? :ohno:

I do not appreciate people being rude. Rather than simply say "I prefer the current trend in architecture in Vancouver" Some idiots start with the sarcastic crap, etc.

You mess with the bull, ya get the horns.

Every project in Vancouver looks the same. Is one architect designing every new building in Van? How about something bold that stands out. Honestly, the Fairmont Pacific Rim looks like a twin to Shaw Tower...WTF? Shrangri-La would be moooore than welcome in Winnipeg or Calgary, but come on already, enough with the transparent glass.

Even the Woodward development is so blah, save for the base. Again, in most other cities, these would be landmarks, but Vancouver needs more texture and color in its new projects. The Ritz is not bad thanks to the red incorporated into its design. 1133 West Georgia has a great design, but is pretty much invisible. Jameson Tower, the YMCA Tower...all great designs, but boring in color and texture.

I do too; it always adds interest when the base deviates from the tower.

This condo tower in TO that should begin construction soon is one I love because it bucks the trend of sheer glass, etc, and is very handsome IMO.

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/xcondosr.jpg

Is Vancouver ready for something like this?

I don't think Vancouver could handle this, as Ludwig Mies dan der Rohe designed such post modernist masterpieces like these in the 1940's- 1960's such as the Lake Shore Drive Apartments in Chicago 1955. I don't think James Cheng would be flattered with the competition.

http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/BritannicaConcise/images/41101.jpg

or the Dirksen Federal Building also in Chicago 1964.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7022/51/1600/flamingo.jpg

I know alot of people are not crazy about mid century modern type buildings, but since none were really built here during that time period, going a little retro may not be such a bad thing for this place.

Vanhattan

There are still existing modern buildings in vancouver that have survived the demolition of many of our other modern buildings. Fact of the matter is, the average Vancouverite does not know architecture yet. It's not a matter of whether they can 'handle' it, we just need to move them beyond prettiness and sleekness and get them to the point where they see bold and different designs as something to be valued.

And since when did this thread turn into a "talk about other design threads"? Keep it on the Shangri-La please and criticism should be welcome but it certianly could have just been done in one sentence like, "Too bad they used sheer glass and not dark/black glass". There, I just summed up Winnipegpatriot's whole point for being on here.

But in defense of Shangri-La, its look is a lot different from other buildings here. Certainly not as different as 1133 W Georgia would be but I mean, if the only concerns are with the colour of the building, well, I can live with that. If not clear glass, the tower would look like a huge black tower and who would want to LIVE in a black tower (rhetorical, please don't answer, haha)? Consider the shape and the finer aspects of the building and it's quite different - sure it may not be bold in design but it isn't an ugly tower.

I love the height and the fact the tower isn't the typical box that most residential towers are. (More of a box cut in half, but hey, its a start). But ya, enough with the transparent glass. Been done to death in Vancouver. Time for a little bit of contrast.

It is incumbent upon the architects and developers to diversify a city's skyline. To limit your projects so that they resemble each other is pathetic, and to not be influenced by designs around the world is ignorant. No, let's continue to build the same towers, HO HUM!

Again, you better believe we in Winnipeg would kill for Shangri-La, but for Vancouver, aside from the height, it will be lost in the skyline.

True, I would like to see some colour other than green and blue but not all the time. There can be some appreciation found in the skyline as a whole which can come at a cost to individual buildings. But with the Shangri-La, it must have been about size but the surrounding buildings in that area are mostly businesses and corps not condos so it does stand out in the immediate vicinity, that is, until 1133 is built.

The tower is now 20% of its full height.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/yvr/451639635_fd67101935_b.jpg

Thanfully you pieces of trash are not developers, but play them behind the computer screen!

Shangri-la is related to the...Fairmont Pacific Rim is related to the Shaw Tower is related to the...

Yea, I think Vancouver is ready for something a little more prominent, a little more bold. A slender, sleek, dark tower would be a nice rest from the repetition of (see above)

How would you know if im a developer or not? I would say I am closer to shaping Vancouver's skyline than you would ever be. I just recently had an interview for a position in Vancouver's planning department working specifically with projects in the central area planning division (downtown core). I certainly don't play planner/developer behind a computer screen. This site can be so entertaining, thanks to people like yourself, posting ridiculous commentary.

Thanks!!!

Some skyscraper enthusiast renderings of what the Shangri-la may look like when completed:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/shangri.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Misc/3.jpg



At night, construction:
http://a139.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/17/l_3c2214a18e261b68af1e82c4167cb912.jpg
http://a5.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/5/l_73c3394759f59fc474b2ca201deb33b4.jpg

Wow! Vancouver's downtown looks soooo much better with a few taller towers. Hopefully this building will help cure the silly phobia the city has with taller structures.

I do too; it always adds interest when the base deviates from the tower.

This condo tower in TO that should begin construction soon is one I love because it bucks the trend of sheer glass, etc, and is very handsome IMO.

http://www.urbandb.com/canada/ontario/toronto/xcondosr.jpg

Is Vancouver ready for something like this?

seriously, do you spam up every thread, or just the ones that have nothing to do with winnipeg? you go to the toronto forums and say the architecture is terrible in comparison to asia and australia, then you come here and start bashing Vancouver ,which has a massive amount of asian influence, with a building from a city you said needed to be inspired by asia,
make up your mind, unless your only motive is to disrupt, then the only thing I can say to you, is to stop trolling, get a life, and for one who doesnt like rude people your doing pretty well at being ignorant yourself.

outsiders also have to realize a lot of the new stuff has been built by the same development company - such as concord pacific

i am sure they want to impart their own look and maintain that look throughout all its projects - its their brand identity and instantly recognizable

thats why the concord development in toronto looks so much like the Vancouver one

and most of what we see has all been done in the last 10-15 years so they will be of the style that is popular in that time period

one can wander downtown and pick out things done in any decade for better or worse

never thought of that. we often forget that there is a sorta single trackedness to designs when it's all coming from the same developers. but i mean, in terms of product, it's up to vancouverites to really push for change. if people want to see difference, put your money to those. don't buy those typical condos then and actively encourage different design aesthetics.

never thought of that. we often forget that there is a sorta single trackedness to designs when it's all coming from the same developers. but i mean, in terms of product, it's up to vancouverites to really push for change. if people want to see difference, put your money to those. don't buy those typical condos then and actively encourage different design aesthetics.

Not sure I agree 100%. With property prices increasing, even mediocre designs sell. Difficult for the average Joe to encourage design differences. It's the city's job to encourage it.

Unfortunately, beyond the fact that it might be the same developer behind different projects, my belief is that the approval process for new developments to some extent disincentivizes innovation and rewards those developers/architects who have successfully put projects through the process before. I'd be interested, for example, to know how many times in recent history a design by James Cheng thrown out by the DPB? I'd bet it hasn't been very many. He knows the process and what will get approved.

It's a two-edged sword. In HK, for example, for every innovative buildings like HSBC or IFC you also have major eyesores. I don't think you get the same extreme in Van. You might not get the truly great design, but you don't get the truly awful, either.

I do see your point. I guess one must always account for the average joe that's perhaps 3 or 4 years behind front of the line design. So then if architects adjust and cater/pander to the design board/city hall, then is it the process that's at fault.

Oh, and I can't wait to take pics of HK. I'm heading there and to shanghai this summer.

Although it is another Vancouver glass tower I do like the design. Vancouver's skyline is finally beginning to be noteworthy with some truly tall towers spiking the skyline.

I REALLY love the holographic glass. Its so cool, especially in the pics where you can see the different colours.

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3176/listingimg3566yn1.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/471896414_f453cc6422_b.jpg

Im moving to vancouver in 2 years and intend on staying there for the rest of my life and hopefully live in downtown someday. i was to see taller, more "icon" like buildings

It's a nice hotel. I have visited Vancouver in 1995, I loved. People was really nice, and downtown beautiful. I was in a homestay in a place called DUNBAR close downtown. I took a inglish course in that moment. I would like to come back one day.
p.s: Sorry my inglish is not good yet. I don't have time to study inglish in this moment.
MANAUS/AMAZONAS/BRAZIL.
SOME PICTURES FROM MY CITY:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/jblue_2007/460165268_670dd2a054_b.jpg
MEETING OF THE WATERS: RIO NEGRO(BLACK RIVER) AND AMAZON RIVER
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/jblue_2007/432277449_548f282038_o.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/jblue_2007/DSC01247.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w234/jblue_2007/Picture077.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/482369538_400e919a53.jpg

http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00160.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00161.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00162.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00163.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00164.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00168.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00169.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00171.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00173.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00174.JPG
http://penguindude.250free.com/DSC00175.JPG

One of the best medium height buildings currently under construction.

From a never before seen angle:
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4070/518031220d3798552e1bhu8.jpg

Mr.x, are the holographic decorative accents going to go all the way to the top of the building on the Georgia and Burrard sides of the facade? I figured they would stop at the podium, but it looks like it is going well up the building.

The holographic squares are are going all the way to the top of the building on the West Georgia and Thurlow facades.
http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2005/05/361810.jpg

what story is that building on now?

From yesterday

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00930.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00931.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00933.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00934.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00935.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00927.jpg

Pic of Shangri-La from the office today (through dirty glass):

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/9291/p6010331kt0.jpg

Nice Updates...

what story is that building on now?

and how many more to go... It looks like its just about to peak over the buildings around it. I cant wait for it to peak over everything!

Not sure exactly what floor it's on now. I see 25-27 floors in the latest pics, which is pretty close to half-way (60 total?).

There will be 59 real storeys, "61" numbered storeys, plus the equivalent of another five to six storeys of mechanical and decorative cap. Let's say we're at 27 storeys, then 59 (normal) plus 5 equivalent (mech) equals 64. We are nearing the half-way mark for Shangri-La's full height.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8602/futurevanrz7.jpg

^^ Cool pic, have to look carefully to notice some of the alterations.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00933.jpg

This site has great aerial photos of Vancouver including recent shots of the Shangri-La. This is a great site where you can go back in Vancouver’s history and also keep up on recent growth as it is updated frequently.

http://www.globalairphotos.com/gallery/BC/Vancouver/Downtown

These aerials are about a month old, taken May 18th.


http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_276.jpg

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_279.jpg

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_278.jpg

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_275.jpg

Pictures taken by SFU Vancouver:




Shangri-La Northeast corner.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1595/shangrilaconstructionnepa6.jpg

Shangri-La Northwest corner.
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9616/shangrilaconstructionnwpe1.jpg

Shangri-La Southeast corner.
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5425/shangrilaconstructionsedk8.jpg

Shangri-La elevation.
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6358/shangrilaconstuctiontalxp7.jpg

Shangri-La hotel balcony edge details.
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5607/shangrilaedgedetailjunety2.jpg

Shangri-La hotel railing detail and dirty windows.
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4606/shangrilarailingdetailjqm8.jpg

Shangri-La podium.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7176/shangrilaconstructionloot3.jpg

Looking good!!! Love this building!! :)

New pics?:)

An update from Monday as posted by Vanman:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00977.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00976.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00975.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00974.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC00973.jpg

Current status (courtesy of Phesto)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/georgiathurlo3di0.jpg

This thread has updated photos more routinely if you want to keep updated

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=312368&page=9

Pics by SFU Vancouver:


http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8738/ritzcarltondemonotion2ahm2.jpg
Ritz-Carlton demolition progress – August 8th

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/783/shangrilapeepingthroughgh9.jpg
Shangri-La is starting to nicely fill in downtown views – August 8th

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8164/shangrilanwelevation2aupb9.jpg
Shangri-La northwest elevation – August 8th

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9775/shangrilaseelevationaugkb8.jpg
Shangri-La southeast elevation – August 8th

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/3443/shangrilaswelevationaugvd9.jpg
Shangri-La southwest elevation – August 8th

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5442/shangrilaconstructionwoec6.jpg
Fearless Shangri-La construction workers earning their pay – August 8th

Picture updates from Flickr:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/1233074303_99137b1579_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1423/1251546610_3783c2b15b_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1238/1251548150_6376f286f6_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1350/1250690333_e1b477c0c5_o.jpg

Sexy!

Some pictures from flickr


The Shangri-la is starting to pop over the skyline
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/1264035423_00bb0a3657_b.jpg


http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/1210086249_69eb1d8f18_b.jpg


http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/1108017300_6a27d103fb_b.jpg

Love this pic...Gonna be even better once Shangri-La and Ritz are finished...If Fairmont's new hotel had a better design (color anyway), it too would look great in this pic; unfortunately, it will just blend in....

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t290/vancouver_2007/1264035423_00bb0a3657_b.jpg

From today

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01131.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01134.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01124.jpg

The balcony railings don't look too bad. Presumably they'll be fitted with glass panels (otherwise the cross bars look too low down).

So I was gonna post this at SSP, but it looks like it bit the dust...

Regarding the rumoured extra floor at Shangri-la, while there hasn’t technically been a floor added, part of the roof has now been combined with an unsold unit on the 60th floor to create a 2-level, 5,900 sq ft penthouse that is going for a staggering $2650 psf, or $15.6 million.

You can see the floorplan and a picture of the roof model here: http://www.livingshangri-la.com/documents/shangrilaPH01.pdf.

I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned in the media yet, but it just went up on the hoarding today. I thought they might do something like this, but thought it required city approval?

That suite was always there. It came back onto the market.

Here's one photo update taken on Sept 7, from FLICKR:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1008/1344423534_624a00628f.jpg?v=0

http://flickr.com/photos/vacantready/1344423534/

This pic reveals just how much space is available for office towers, etc...so much prime land wasted by such small buildings ripe for demolition...

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_276.jpg

^ oh god no, that'll never happen. Those small buildings you're talking about are the upscale shops of Robson Street.

I'd hardly call them upscale. I mean, the Gap? Hello? Hah.

Although I wouldn't mind it if Robson was bulldozed over, I do have my Gastown boutiques, Main St., Yaletown, and South Granville still. Haha. They can get rid of the middle of the road, boring fashion outlets on Robson - save a few occasionally good ones.

Plus Winnipegpatriot, it's the sun swarming Robson that makes it a great place to stroll. With the shadows from towers, it would be just like any other street.

Robson street has some of the highest rents in the world apparently

it will never become offices its a retail street

people in offices will need shops and restaurants cafes etc to frequent not to mention the 50,000 downtowners

its nice the way it is

if anything the mammoth ones put up in the 90's ruined what was there

West Georgia street flatiron elevation.
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/1892/shangrilaconstructionweau0.jpg
Photo by SFUVancouver (SSP) / Vancouverite (SSC)

Alberni street elevation.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/4538/shangrilaconstructionaldv2.jpg
Photo by SFUVancouver (SSP) / Vancouverite (SSC)

Thurlough street elevation.
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/6836/shangrilaconstructionthvv6.jpg
Photo by SFUVancouver (SSP) / Vancouverite (SSC)

Hotel balcony detail.
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2701/shangrilaconstructionhojh4.jpg
Photo by SFUVancouver (SSP) / Vancouverite (SSC)

Shangri-La from Coal Harbour (about 6 blocks away)
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/9728/penderconstructionprecipl9.jpg
Photo by SFUVancouver (SSP) / Vancouverite (SSC)

Shangri-La from Coal Harbour (zoom)
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7124/shangrilafromcoalharbousu8.jpg
Photo by SFUVancouver (SSP) / Vancouverite (SSC)

Shangri-La's remaining penthouses aren't cheap. (To put this in perspective, the Canadian Dollar is currently worth about 95 cents U.S.)
http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/4453/shangrilapenthousepriceqi5.jpg
Photo by SFUVancouver (SSP) / Vancouverite (SSC)

^ great pictures! thx!

Looks like it's almost topped out. :cheers:

Great pictures Vancouverite.

Ah, ah, I took so many pictures of this building since I arrived!! Great ones Vancouverite!
I have a few more taken from further (North Van, Kitsilano, ...) where we can see it in the skyline, I will post them once I can download my pix on my computer.

Question: how many storeys are still to be built?

Ah, ah, I took so many pictures of this building since I arrived!! Great ones Vancouverite!
I have a few more taken from further (North Van, Kitsilano, ...) where we can see it in the skyline, I will post them once I can download my pix on my computer.

Question: how many storeys are still to be built?

I think there are about 18 floors left, and don't forget about the rooftop mechanical structure that adds on like another 3-storeys worth of height.

I think there are about 18 floors left, and don't forget about the rooftop mechanical structure that adds on like another 3-storeys worth of height.

Great news!! With 18 more floors + rooftop it will be be much higher than the other buildings of Vancouver, and will be a great addition to the skyline! :banana:

So look@round when can you get those photos up for us. Anytime soon, I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

As I've got pretty much the same pictures than Vancouverite, I won't post these ones, but only the ones I took from further these last days. As I spend a lot of time downtown, I will post some other updates from Shangri-La soon.

Skyline from the seabus / North Van:

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1005/img1223hq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1091/img1224hd1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/1899/img1239xr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Skyline from Stanley Park:

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6573/img1316dz2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/3369/img1318fx7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Skyline from Kitsilano:

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/5427/img1359ac9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/5691/img1373sw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Skyline from Skytrain Broadway Station:

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/7967/img1383qq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/3028/img1384dp6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Some more soon... I still have a lot of places to visit here!
As you can see, it's not yet very impressive in the skyline... With a few more floors, it should start being interesting!

WOW WOW...Just imagine when Shangri-La and Ritz are done....

With Shangri-La & Ritz Carlton, Vancouver skyline will be great, because now I find it a bit boring... All the buildings have pretty much the same size & color... These 2 high rises will really change everything :banana:

Great photos look@round! I did a double take on those last ones since they are basically my view. I posted this dawn photo I took a few days ago in the main photos thread:

A sliver of downtown with Shangri-La rising.
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/4336/downtownfrommywindowatdhe7.jpg
My photo

With Shangri-La & Ritz Carlton, Vancouver skyline will be great, because now I find it a bit boring... All the buildings have pretty much the same size & color... These 2 high rises will really change everything :banana:

Yeah--Vancouver has always needed a few significantly taller towers to poke through the crowd....Hopefully next is a 1000 footer...

2 more from today, taken from the Lion Gates Bridge (a bit blurry):

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7501/img1759hk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3930/img1762ah9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And from yesterday, on the sea bus:

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8128/img1519ha7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8581/img1520zr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice pics. I think the Shangri la has about 46 floors completed so far by using the actual counting way that the developer uses. Plus i think once 4 more levels are completed the shangri la will stand the tallest in Vancouver.

Nice - looks wide from that Kits angle.

I think they've raised the crane on top higher these last couple days, so I guess there's still a ways to go.

Taken by phesto today:
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/426/picture024bks7.jpg


By Delirium yesterday:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Picture341.jpg



Where the tower is, by raggedy13:
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/493064.jpg

Thanks for posting this pix & schema mr.x, that's interesting to see how many floors are still to be built. :)

Some pix I took a few minutes ago from the 30th floor of Wall Center's North Tower. Too bad the weather was so rainy and cloudy and that I couldn't access to the roof top :ohno:

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/8978/img1781dv2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7717/img1782zp8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks - another interesting angle.

That last pic is f*cken incredible!!!

Shangri-La beginning to peep out above the downtown skyline from my perspective on Commercial Drive. I took this on Sept 20.

Downtown Vancouver
http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/1149/sunsetoverdowntownsept2lv3.jpg
(my photo)

From the webcam - podium superstructure being erected:

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4484/untitledam9.jpg

From Flickr, with around 16 floors to go and a 4-storey rooftop structure.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/1423627995_e910631a9d_o.jpg




How it should look like when completed, photoshopped by bils:
http://www.bilsproductions.com/shangrilatopped.jpg

Wouah, the last one is really impressive. It looks really high on this pix!

Sleek and Beautiful!

Wouah, the last one is really impressive. It looks really high on this pix!

With the rooftop structure, it should be even more higher.....about 4-storeys more.

Question: is that rooftop structure part of the stated building height? If it is, then does it break the height limit b/c it's not officially included in the floor space?

OMG...I never thought I'd see something that tall in Vancouver...WOW!!!

The roof is included in the height, the building itself is 600ft, plus 46 feet of mech rooms. for a total of ~646

Wow - quite the photoshop job - and accurate too!

another photoshopped creation by bils:
http://www.bilsproductions.com/webcam01.jpg

Oh Yeah!!!

Today:

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4986/img1978kx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2063/img1982lk1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/6057/img1985nc7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/1148/img1990fu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7712/img1994zh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/8631/img1988uv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



Last weekend, from Lighthouse park:

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/8228/img1814fj5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3616/img1812vu3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A few more 700-800 foot towers would finish the skyline off nicely!!

It'll never be finished. :)

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/9460/shangrilapodiumsept28xc8.jpg

The podium is starting to come along. It will house an upscale Urban Fare grocery store, a public sculpture garden curated by the Vancouver Art Gallery, and an unnamed fine dining restaurant.

Image Source (http://lvl.verttech.com:8050/webcam3.htm)

Taken by SKYMASTER at SSC:


New pictures from today:

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/741/picture027fh4.jpg
]
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3725/picture028byu3.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/4517/60984914nz0.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2179/picture029bsj3.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/3737/picture030wg2.jpg

Pictures from Last weekend:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1226/1484248477_4f4fb618b3_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1089/1484267443_817b9d1a4b_o.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8798/shangrilaconstructionalhz2.jpg
Alberni Street elevation

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5051/shangrilaconstructionwent1.jpg
West Georgia flatiron elevation

My photos ( SFUVancouver in SSP | Vancouver in SSC )

Pic of the top showing the double height scaffolding for the box taken by me today, October 11, 2007 (taken through dirty tinted glass). Also note where the secondary elevator core tops out - level 43 (the inserted floor) is I think the last floor with that elevator - that could be that floor unless there's space for elevator mechanical in the core shown - I'll let someone else figure that out.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8416/pa110551cropjl0.jpg

^^ Very interesting pix! :) Which building is it taken from?

A few more ones taken tonight from Stanley Park:

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/358/img2337ur1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8831/img2361qq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3682/img2369mn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8875/img2371gw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/3728/img2377cq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

TD Tower
Nice pic with the 3 towers under construction. You just needed Flatiron's crane to face the same way as the other two.

I snapped a photo from my apartment this afternoon of the Shangri-La that I thought I would share. You can clearly see the stepping of the elevator shafts that OfficeDweller pointed out in his photo.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/669/shangrilaconstructionfrml2.jpg
My photo ( Vancouverite in SSC | SFUVancouver in SSP )

Posted by Skymaster and Vancouverite today, from Flickr


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2287/1565536914_576ed4723c_b.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5263/shangrilaconstructionoczm1.jpg

my friend found some slabs of marble in the dumpster a while back

so he now has some nice little marble shelves from the shangra la

they were perfect little pieces for shelves

what was he doing in the dumpster??

Yesterday, from Sea Bus and North Van:

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/2517/img2401rf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7696/img2540hd4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^ sweet pics. the convention centre and Shangri-la are coming along really nicely.

Nice...the first pic will showcase Fairmont's new hotel nicely!

update.

These pics are a little outdated, but I thought they were worth posting anyway. I took these on October 4th hanging out an 11th floor window at the Sutton Place Hotel. Enjoy!

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8585/ritz200710052pk0.jpg

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8691/ritz200710051at3.jpg

Yesterday's update (under the rain!) from Convention Center extension:

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4871/img2645mv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1862/img2647zx3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

what was he doing in the dumpster??

we were walking past it and they were just sitting there

it was one of those low bed skid dumpster things - the stuff was right on top

i thought of taking them myself - they had some interesting stuff in there

right across from the wendys...

A few days ago:

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/484/img2700bz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

To compare with the rendering, I guess the construction is now at the level of the red line (maybe a bit higher now):

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6058/28vancouver1120westgeorak1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)




This evening, from Commercial Drive and Broadway station:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6450/img2765sf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4834/img2772ur6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

looks awesome

I love it. :)

Are there building height restrictions in downtown Vancouver? I would expect your tallest to be near 1000 feet instead of ~600 ft.

Yup to the height restrictions. A 1000 footer would tower over everything, triple the height of a typical tower. Vancouver isn't a mega city, if anything, you should expect it to have a smaller skyline. :) It's not a mass commercial centre like New York.

So you do have height restrictions? How high can you go?

Charlotte has 4 buildings over 600 feet. Our tallest is nearly 900 feet. Vancouver is a larger city, but Charlotte may have a larger corporate presence. I think Vancouver is due for a new tall office building though. Maybe something with a crown. I think it would be good to have a building stand out, maybe a few buildings. I love Vancouver's skyline, but it looks like a mass and needs some differing heights.

So you do have height restrictions? How high can you go?

Charlotte has 4 buildings over 600 feet. Our tallest is nearly 900 feet. Vancouver is a larger city, but Charlotte may have a larger corporate presence. I think Vancouver is due for a new tall office building though. Maybe something with a crown. I think it would be good to have a building stand out, maybe a few buildings. I love Vancouver's skyline, but it looks like a mass and needs some differing heights.
The height restrictions were set long ago and designed to ensure that the Coast Mountain Range is covered up by a forest of concrete. The Shangri-La building is basically scraping up against the ceiling that was set, although I'm not sure of the actual height.

I think it's about time to let it go. We're just plain running out of space now in the DT core.

The height restrictions were set long ago and designed to ensure that the Coast Mountain Range is covered up by a forest of concrete. The Shangri-La building is basically scraping up against the ceiling that was set, although I'm not sure of the actual height.

I think it's about time to let it go. We're just plain running out of space now in the DT core.

I agree. Maybe instead of totally giving up the restrictions, there should be an certain part of downtown designated for buildings up to 1000 feet. I think that would look awesome.

^ 1,000 foot buildings are way too tall for Vancouver. A max. of 750-800 feet would be much more proper.

^ I think the Shangri-La and its peers will do a wonderful job changing public, and most importantly political, opinion about the built form of our city. The sky hasn't fallen, nor have property values plummeted because a sliver of someone's mountain view has been encrouched upon.

I would be completely fine with the possibility of several 300+ metre towers downtown, provided that the Vancouver Tall Building code is applied in an evenhanded manner. I think we have nothing to lose and everything to gain from a more vertically diverse skyline and we already have the procedural tools in place that would compel tall buildings to yield active streets, appropriate building spacing, respectful overshadowing, environmental initiatives, and most importantly, architectural significance.

^ burn the witch! racist! terrorist!

i agree.

So you do have height restrictions? How high can you go?

Charlotte has 4 buildings over 600 feet. Our tallest is nearly 900 feet. Vancouver is a larger city, but Charlotte may have a larger corporate presence. I think Vancouver is due for a new tall office building though. Maybe something with a crown. I think it would be good to have a building stand out, maybe a few buildings. I love Vancouver's skyline, but it looks like a mass and needs some differing heights.They do all look the same in height, due to the downtown being a mass - kinda like Sao Paulo, which is a sea of buildings as far as you can see. The reality is that each building is a different height, even if by a few feet. I agree a few that leap out a bit wouldn't hurt.

Oh, I was just thinking about Richmond... Now that really looks like every building is the exact same height.

Seems like little bureaucrats are always in the way.
It is not about public safety, traffic flow or anything else, just their opinion of esthetics.

London Building Act of 1894:
Buidings shall be restricted to 22m in height to the cornice and no taller than 30m overall.

Maybe it was a religious thing, sacriligeous to block the view of the churches.
Now, it is sacriligious not to have "view cones".

They do all look the same in height, due to the downtown being a mass - kinda like Sao Paulo, which is a sea of buildings as far as you can see. The reality is that each building is a different height, even if by a few feet. I agree a few that leap out a bit wouldn't hurt.

Oh, I was just thinking about Richmond... Now that really looks like every building is the exact same height.
Richmond is more understandable due to the nearby airport and threat of subsidence, you need some sort of low-height restriction, therefore all the heights will be the same.

What about lifting height restrictions in a small designated area that isn't on that downtown Vancouver peninsula? Perhaps 1 km to the east or southeast of BC Place? I'm not familiar with the area that I mentioned, but surely there is an area within proximity of downtown Vancouver where taller buildings wouldn't be such a threat to mountain views?

What about lifting height restrictions in a small designated area that isn't on that downtown Vancouver peninsula? Perhaps 1 km to the east or southeast of BC Place? I'm not familiar with the area that I mentioned, but surely there is an area within proximity of downtown Vancouver where taller buildings wouldn't be such a threat to mountain views?
Well the Broadway Corridor is zoned for dense commercial, everything south of it is pretty much single family housing. Though "single-family house in certain areas of Vancouver west can mean 5-6 million dollar half acre lots.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/484/img2700bz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

To compare with the rendering, I guess the construction is now at the level of the red line (maybe a bit higher now):

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6058/28vancouver1120westgeorak1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I believe the current height is actually 2 floors below that red line (although by now it might be just 1 below). But based on your picture there, it should be two floors below. You have to look closely at that corner box. It's 6 storeys high - or 3 double-height storeys high. The bits of wood sticking out on the corners of those two lower floors are just there to help construct the box, they're not part of it.

Hope this helps...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/edit.jpg

Anywho, thanks for the great pictures!

Yeah, that's right. There are now two double height columns in place and they are working on the floor above - halfway up the next level of the box.

VANCOUVER'S TALLEST BUILDING, from the Lions Gate Bridge

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/1806698246_c18572b978_b.jpg

A few pics I took this morning. I would've got more but my camera died and I didn't have the time to get more batteries.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/100_9705.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/100_9704.jpg

^ coming along!

Yup to the height restrictions. A 1000 footer would tower over everything, triple the height of a typical tower. Vancouver isn't a mega city, if anything, you should expect it to have a smaller skyline. :) It's not a mass commercial centre like New York.


Vancouver not being a mega city has nothing to do with not having a 1000 foot tower, i can name you every single city in North American except for two, that arent mega cities and they have near 1000 foot towers, if there were no height restrictions in Vancouver you would easily see near 1000 foot towers.

Can you name me one of those cities that is better off then Vancouver due to having that 1000ft tower?

The fact we are successful is due to the lack of 1000ft scrapers, developers have had to build 100's of smaller towers as opposed to a small cluster of supertalls.

Amen. While I would love to see a few more signature buildings, then need not be 1000 feet. While i am not a supreme fan of hieght restrictions, i'm also not a supreme fan of supertalls either - look at dubai (give or take some spectacular ones)

Dubai it's just killing it. I remember officedweller posted a picture on a dubai community... absolute horror.

I would say the more buildings the better....

A few 1000 ft buildings in Vancouver wouldn't look good. They would look out of place and would diminish, not add to, the skyline.

i want to see 400 meters...... in surrey

A few 1000 ft buildings in Vancouver wouldn't look good. They would look out of place and would diminish, not add to, the skyline.

What a sad perspective. The skyline is dense enough to anchor a 1000 footer. Putting a 1000 footer in downtown Regina would look out of place...

winnipegpatriot, can i just ask what your background is? have you lived in vancouver for a substantial amount of time?

A few 1000 ft buildings in Vancouver wouldn't look good. They would look out of place and would diminish, not add to, the skyline.

What people often fail to acknowledge is that Downtown is not flat. Depending on where you put a 1000 foot building, it may not stand out like much of a sore thumb at all. The Shangri-La when it's all said and done will not look much taller than 1 Wall Center when viewing the skyline northwards - and there is almost 200' difference.

The Shangri-La will approx. be as high as the crane when completed - roughly the same height appearance as the Wall Center to the left.

Shangri-La 646'
Wall Center 491'

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6786/webcam01ci0.jpg

Shangri-La is on a hill as well. If a 1000' tower were further downhill towards the harbour, it would stick out, but not as much as some would like to believe. Most of the bank towers appear a lot taller than they actually are thanks to elevations, depending on what angle you view them from.

winnipegpatriot, can i just ask what your background is? have you lived in vancouver for a substantial amount of time?

Not a "substantial" amount of time...1 year (2000-2001). I miss it everyday, LOL!

i want to see 400 meters...... in surrey

i want to see a comet crater in surrey.

i want to see a comet crater in surrey.

:lol:

winnipegpatriot, can i just ask what your background is? have you lived in vancouver for a substantial amount of time?

Actually, I think winipegpatriot makes a good point. Why not have a nice tall tower in Vancouver? What's the harm?

I'm for a 1000 footer but I'm just hesistant when you think what the UDP will do to it. The UDP is a mixed blessing. I would want a 1000 footer that stood out with design and not just by height.

1 Bloor is a good example of what Vancouver needs...close enough to 1000 feet, and quite a stunning tower.

I think Vancouver would look magnificent with an 800 and 1000 foot tower, near each other. That would be perfect!

I think Vancouver would look magnificent with an 800 and 1000 foot tower, near each other. That would be perfect!

I designed a Vancouver- (Shaw Tower-) style building (1,200 ft) which I found would have looked good in downtown Van. I'll see if I can find the rendering I made of it. No, it won't actually be built as it was just for a SimCity 4 project.

Vancouver needs to lift those insane limits. Who cares if one can't see the mountains past them when those mountains are a short 20 minute drive from downtown. If we wanna see mountains, we can see them anytime. Even the much smaller Calgary has a better skyline. What does that say for Vancouver? Makes it look apathetic to me.

I don't see why Vancouver needs a 1000 footer. It seems excessive, and who wants it besides a few die hard skyscraper fanatics? It seems a few people see a need to fit in to some sort of formula for what they believe is a great skyline, or a male desire to see huge things? I'd much rather see that densification move to the rest of the city. Not as a super tall, but more medium density dwellings. There's amazing looking cities out there that have little or no talls at all.

I would beg to differ that calgary has a better looking skyline. But that;s not what this forum is for.

i want to see a comet crater in surrey.

i thought that was what was there right now

I don't see why Vancouver needs a 1000 footer. It seems excessive, and who wants it besides a few die hard skyscraper fanatics? It seems a few people see a need to fit in to some sort of formula for what they believe is a great skyline, or a male desire to see huge things? I'd much rather see that densification move to the rest of the city. Not as a super tall, but more medium density dwellings. There's amazing looking cities out there that have little or no talls at all.

When London starts building supertalls...you better believe things are a changing...

Hey how fast are these floors going up? It seems quick!

When London starts building supertalls...you better believe things are a changing...Eh?

So if they're building one, why shouldn't we?

Not necessarily...simply that many people used to refer to London as a city that doesn't build tall towers...well, looking at what is being proposed for the city reveals some nice towers...tall too;)

I would like to see Vancouver's skyline become more pyramidical...

So... yes is what you're saying.

The ideal combination is a couple at 700 ft and a cluster of 5-6 600 footers with a small peak. Every other building should be less than 500ft. Start with small ones and then finish with the tall ones over time, so the skyline will not be diminished at any point. Needless to say, floorplates should be kept as small or smaller than current buildings to keep things to scale.

The skyline is probably massive enough to have 2 peaks, one near shangri-la and the other away from coal harbour, near the empire landmark hotel, once they demolish all the under dense apartment buildings around it.

So... yes is what you're saying.


I would like to see taller buildings in Vancouver because I love 'em...not because other cities are. Other cities build freeways; doesn't mean I want to see those in Vancouver...

A few pictures from yesterday:

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7267/img3063ny6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7696/img3065fe6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2015/img3069hi7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6122/img3070ht5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

For those photographers out there, go to the second floor of Chapters on Robson by the business section. Out the windows is the most impressive view of the Shangri-La. I'd take pictures but my camera is out of commission for a while.

whats the building height restriction now in vancouver?

600ft to top of slab plus mechanical penthouse in specified areas along Georgia and Burrard, BUT - that is subject to view cones which cover all of those specified areas except the 1000 and 1100 blcoks of West Goegria St.

and the shagri-la's 642 feet?

Yeah that's right, 642 ft is to the top of the fins (i.e. mech enclosure).
It's 600ft to the top of slab (there may have been a minor variance, but essentially 600 ft).

thanks. im just curious when they changed it and why?

When they changed what?
That's been the height since the tower was originally approved. Last year they amended the rezoning to insert one floor about midway up the tower, but the height to the top of the fins remained the same.

I just noticed tonight that they have put red Christmas lights on the tower crane for the Shangri-La.

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/2817/shangrilaatnightwithchrrq2.jpg
Source: My Photo ( SFUVancouver in SSP | Vancouverite in SSC )

I like that this tradition is continuing. From my perspective in East Vancouver the Shangri-La is now the tallest tower in the city.

no im talking about the general height restriction for vancouver. I remember hearing that the one wall center was exceeding it when it was first built, but maybe that was just a rumor. Anyways its not a big deal

Aaah. That was a number of years ago in 1997 with the implementation of the "Higher Buildings Policy".

See link here (see Appendix C for higher buildings zones):

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/planning/archives/skylinestudy/index.htm

thanks

posted by skymaster, from Flickr:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2064/1957631505_9c1315a15d.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/1913438221_c62745825a_o.jpg

http://www.numinous.ca/images/webcam01.jpg

i want to see a comet crater in surrey.

Surrey is actually getting quite tall now. With the sky towers Surrey will have 2 towers around 125 meters and after this they can perhaps build around 150m, 180m, 220m, 275m, and on.

Surrey is actually getting quite tall now. With the sky towers Surrey will have 2 towers around 125 meters and after this they can perhaps build around 150m, 180m, 220m, 275m, and on.

it'll look like Downtown Los Angeles.
http://i.pbase.com/o4/91/43791/1/54811218.WS8E0374_downtown_Los_Angeles_sunset.jpg

actually? That would be pretty freakin' impressive.

actually? That would be pretty freakin' impressive.

imo, it's likely within the next 25 years....either that or another cluster like Metrotown.

taken yesterday by entheosfog:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/entheos_fog/DSCF5193.jpg?t=1194810137

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v372/entheos_fog/DSCF5207.jpg?t=1194810368

imo, it's likely within the next 25 years....either that or another cluster like Metrotown.

Well i'd hope not because to me Metrotown looks like a mess. Its not even a cluster because the skyline is all in a line.

Illuminating Architecture

By: Albert Warson

"Paris is called the City of Light for the flair with which most of its historic monuments and many of its architectural gems are illuminated externally after dark.

Then there is Vancouver, which isn't Paris, but in its own unassuming yet adventurous style may well be leading the world in "green" architectural illumination. The 60-storey Shangri-La hotel/condo tower, for example - the city's tallest building upon its completion in 2008 (until a taller one surfaces in the meantime) - will literally "glow in the dark" with a new photo-luminescent paint product, developed by Luna Technologies International, New York (corporate) and Coquitlam, B.C. (research, development and production).

Luna calls itself a "world leader in the emerging field of high-performance photo-luminescent materials," which typically illuminate building and aircraft "exit" and other escape signage. The new lighting application for buildings is charged by ambient light, especially ultra-violet rays, and can glow for hours, releasing stored light without any electricity. Luna reasoned that the system could find vastly larger applications than signage. Lighting up building exteriors, for example, and Vancouver is the first city to use it in that format.

James KM Cheng Architects in Vancouver, the firm that designed the Shangri-La hotel, the first to be built in North America, chose the Luna system, which is being applied on the exterior as the tower rises. Cheng explains that the "lighting absorbs and reflects ultra-violet light during the day into a spectrum of changing colours, and glows softly at night." No electricity or light bulbs are used, and there is no maintenance, except to clean the button-like fixtures occasionally."

full article (good read); http://www.building.ca/issues/ISarticle.asp?id=188775&story_id=27048112832&issue=04012007&PC=



http://pricetags.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/shangrila1.jpg

^^nice. How much taller will she get?

^^nice. How much taller will she get?

between 50-60 feet.

its really coming along. i need to go down there and check it out. i havent been west of granville in a long time.

Some Shangri-La pics I got earlier today...

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9805.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9827.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9829.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9830.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9831.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9840.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9898.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9908.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9949.jpg

Some more from today:
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/90014331/original.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/90014334/original.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/90014336/original.jpg

60 floors, by skymaster
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Dec%206%202007/100_9840.jpg

Great photos, thanks.
It's about 3 blocks from my apartment and I can finally see it over the other buildings from my living room window.

from flickr:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2039/2097509108dfa47011f6omc1.jpg

That last picture is otherworldly.

those are fantastic shots! Wow, keep them coming...wish I lived down there instead of in Kelowna. I'd love to be taking shots of the shangri-la. I've been following this project from conceptual design 5 or so years ago. From the models it looks like there's 2 more floors to be added then 3-4 floors of extended curtainwall to obscure the mechanical RTU's.

posted by raggedy13, from flickr:



Taken December 16th
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2098/2119534525_32f06ceab1_b.jpg

December 17th
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/2119095716_7eaf7c8c6e_b.jpg

December 12th
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2118256045_48666ee522_b.jpg

December 6th
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/2117197570_3c5fe5b7e5_b.jpg

December 8th
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/2121854910_2f68a57a02_b.jpg

December 16th
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2115671203_9dea39d079_b.jpg

View from my mates apartment in the Palisades:

http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/613620922864297e19347e98695f0f0d7179c055e82d7716d69ade6269c4de1782268a7e.jpg

One I took from a bridge:

http://img4011.photobox.co.uk/868692929e95e65fe0906d836f09940214906e619b1b92597185c9911b3158ad49a224dc.jpg

Cool tower, needs a couple of brothers and sisters though.

Nice shot up Thurlow St.

wow, its comming along pretty fast.
id like to take a trip to vancouver to see it soon.
im not certain, but is it the tallest building in western canada? or is there something taller in calgary?

Petro-Canada Centre's West Tower in Calgary is the highest in Western Canada at 215m, with The Bow set to surpass it at 236m in 2011.

thats the tower i was thinking of, except i thought it was 55-58 stories.
do you remember how many stories any of those towers are?


i was kinda hoping tallest structure in western canada was in bc.

Well it isn't. Calgary has got us trumped and it will probably remain that way for the foreseeable future.

thats the tower i was thinking of, except i thought it was 55-58 stories.
do you remember how many stories any of those towers are?


i was kinda hoping tallest structure in western canada was in bc.


Petro Tower = 53 floors

The Bow = 59 floors

Whatever, haha. I like the Shangri-La (and our Ritz-Carlton) much more than the Bow. The Bow looks like something from Calgary. Of course, I kinda have a biased objectve but whatever.

The Bow doesn't look like anything out of Calgary. It's a huge departure from what Calgary usually builds. Norman Foster is not a crap architect. Perhaps a little objectivity and get past your bias? It's not a quality most people find admirable and it won't do wonders for the integrity and value of your opinions either.

Then again you did end with "whatever". Why wouldn't you care if your opinion is valued? Doesn't seem any point in posting an opinion in the first place.

I would have to agree , the Bow looks nothing like what you usually see in Calgary . Now if they build a second one next door , thats a different story then , lol .

Petro Tower = 53 floors

The Bow = 59 floors

thanks

Wow. So strong opinions from you. Don't turn this forum into what SSP has been recently please. (eyeroll) And I didn't criticize Norman Foster work at all and I happen to LOVE his addition to Vancouver. But the Bow's shape, that curved building reminds me of the curve of the Saddledome which I find so hokey.

And like I really care about how my opinions are read. It's a forum, I expect to get such responses from people like you on internet forums that like to take things to personally and cannot let a throwaway comment go. Lighten up isaidso (eyeroll)

thanks

You know Wikipedia has a "List of Tallest Buildings in Calgary" and so forth for most major North American cities (and possibly elsewhere I havn't really checked) with heights, floor numbers, etc. It's almost a quicker reference than here because everything is listed in a table.


And the The Bow looks amazing imo. It is something much different than anything of the current additions to the Vancouver skyline. Vancouver could stand to have some more styles in its tallest buildings.

In one way Shangri-La will take the crown for buildings out west. It will have more floors than any other building, just edging out the Bow.

The floor to floor height is greater in a commercial highrise than it is in residential highrise.
This is due to mechanical and HVAC requirements as well as commercial floors usually like to see 10' clear from floor to u/s suspended ceiling (so 12-13' floor to floor is common). So in theory, a 65 floor residential tower may be the same height as a 50-55 storey commercial tower. Of course every tower is a little different, however this is the general rule of thumb. When we designed the Arriva (Victoria school condos in Calgary) we were aiming for about 10' floor to floor thus 8' clear as a result. I actually have the drawings here at my desk as I'm typing this!

My buddy was driving me down Georgia St from stanley park this morning, and I was treated to an amazing profile of Shangri la. I know it's only 650 feet tall, but it easily looks 900 ft because it's so thin. Judging from the skyline pics, I think it's the perfect height, because any taller and shangri la would start looking a bit penisy. Before I realized how short all the buildings are, I wud have thought Vancouver has the biggest skyline in the country. Big towers would change that.

In Toronto we also have a shangri-la in the works, but its much boxier and fatter...too bad. But its only a bit bigger than some of Toronto's taller condos so hopefully it shouldn't cause too much damage.

Some of us like "penisy";)

It won't be too penisy because the Ritz Carlton will be next to it - even if this imaginary penisy Shangri-La towers over it. Imagine if both buildings were much taller and you have two phallouses (sp?) next to each other.

A good cluster of 450-600 footers need to happen around shangri-la before anything taller gets built.

And like I really care about how my opinions are read. It's a forum, I expect to get such responses from people like you on internet forums that like to take things to personally and cannot let a throwaway comment go. Lighten up isaidso (eyeroll)

Not sure how you conclude that I am taking your comments personally. The only effect they have on me personally is astonishment. Why you would write anything if you don't care. Why post? Makes zero sense unless you are practicing typing with no regard for the bandwidth you are using up. I will lay off you, but if you don't take your self seriously, no one else will.

A good cluster of 450-600 footers need to happen around shangri-la before anything taller gets built.

Nope! The skyline is dense enough to anchor a taller tower.

Alritey, I guess it's a personal matter of aesthetics then. The skyline will look awesome either way. Based on how your city works, realistically vancouver won't be seeing a 700 footer for a while, until more buildings are closer to shangri-la's height.

Why you would write anything if you don't care. Why post? Makes zero sense unless you are practicing typing with no regard for the bandwidth you are using up. I will lay off you, but if you don't take your self seriously, no one else will.

LOL personally I don't give a crap about my bandwidth when I post.

I'd love to see a tall building emerge out of the West End. But I guess it would not really be seen in the skyline from that end of the city.

But if we're talking about that one building that sticks out like a penis, would you rather have a penis or a distinct clump of buildings like in so many other cities? I think I'd rather have that then a sudden mass of tall buildings.

Ooops, I guess I just wasted more bandwidth.

LOL personally I don't give a crap about my bandwidth when I post.

I don't either, but I'm sure the implication wasn't lost on him/her. Well, who knows, the posts continue. :|

Shangrila what a beauty???

Breathtaking Philippines Travel Pictures
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=564938

Cool thats nice if I ever go to the Philippines. This isn't about natural beauty, you do realize Shangri La is a building.. right?

My friend actually travelled to Shangrila, China this summer. According to her, it's not quite the paradise that the word Shangrila typically evokes, she said it was kinda run down. Haha, thought that was kinda interesting.

Pics taken today by Vanman:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction055.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction053.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction052.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction049.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction042.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction038.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction033.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction024.jpg

Poking out above the CBD
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction005.jpg

The base is coming along nicely.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction043.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction044.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction045.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction046.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction047.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction048.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/vanstruction051.jpg

Hey MR.x thanks for updating these threads with my pics. I was going to update some of them myself but you already got them covered. Plus now I save bandwidth on photobucket.

Vancouver finally has something taller than 600 ft.

But it's still 2-metres short of 200-metres, which the city has yet to achieve.

According to Emporis.com (awesome site by the way) the Shangri-La building is actually 201 metres high. Whether that's t/o penthouse, I'm not sure. However, 1-2 more floors were added to the building back in november of '07. The additional storey(s) brought the building up from 196.9 metres to 201 metres. I actually emailed on of the guys that's in charge of the emporis website and he stated that Ledcor Construction actually did contact him to update their stats of the additional added 1-2 floors. So....we are actually over the 200 metre mark!

According to Emporis.com (awesome site by the way) the Shangri-La building is actually 201 metres high. Whether that's t/o penthouse, I'm not sure. However, 1-2 more floors were added to the building back in november of '07. The additional storey(s) brought the building up from 196.9 metres to 201 metres. I actually emailed on of the guys that's in charge of the emporis website and he stated that Ledcor Construction actually did contact him to update their stats of the additional added 1-2 floors. So....we are actually over the 200 metre mark!

Best can of worms I've seen in a while - and it's opened again.

^^^No^^^^

There was one floor added, and there was no increase in building height I can assure you that the info provided by the gentleman at Ledcor was misunderstood.

^^^No^^^^

There was one floor added, and there was no increase in building height I can assure you that the info provided by the gentleman at Ledcor was misunderstood.

Sorry - Wasn't at all trying to be critical - was just referring to the long standing debate on here and on the Shangi-La thread on SSP relating to the "61 or 62" floor isssue and supposed correspnding high increase and the general debate on other threads as to the accuracy of building heights and flooe numbers on Emporis.

Pic from the TD Tower I took today - looks like they've topped out.

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9825/p1230597ix7.jpg

Man, let's hope this conversation about floors 61 or 62 devolve into the one on SSP. Jlousa, I believe you as there seems to be a consensus of your role in the building. I can feel your frustration at constantly having to deal with rumours and unconfirmed report.