720 Beatty
Admittedly, it has taken me longer than normal to write my thoughts about this open house, held in the basement of the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch. Which is odd, as the project is certainly important given it proposes to upgrade the facility powering Downtown Vancouver’s thermal energy network. Designed by Bjarke Ingels, the genius behind Vancouver House, the buildings are strikingly beautiful, and this location next to BC Place is perfect for a new office building.
As much as the architecture of the proposal has attracted attention, I want to take a moment to focus on the landscaping, which is really impressive. In hindsight, one the biggest flaws during the renovations to BC Place was that green space was overlooked, disappearing almost completely as the surrounding parcels were developed. Fortunately, like their development at the Oakridge Centre, it seems this developer’s intent is to bring nature back to where it has been lost.
The public realm looks fantastic, with plenty of room dedicated to gardens of growth and renewal, timber benches, and salvage artwork; even on the busiest night this will be an oasis of calm. That is carried forth to the rooftop amenity of the building, where even the most stressed out office worker will have a chance to relax, and even take a run on a rooftop track to see some of the best views of eastern False Creek.
There is one flaw in the design, and unfortunately it is one of the more interesting elements. While I can not help feel a childlike sense of wonder at the prospect of being able to look into the inner workings of the steam plant, I worry what might happen with the pipes that come in and out of the building at ground level. I can only imagine children, and those celebrating a close sports game, will be drawn to these features, which may lead to injuries.
That said, the later group may be too distracted to engage in that behavior, as there are plans to add an“entertainment pavilion” at a later date. This seems to be one of WestBank‘s hallmarks, as they tried to implement underground event halls at both their 33 Cordova and Oakridge Centre projects. Both were turned down due to concerns the Vancouver Police Department had about how they could access these spaces in a terrorist attack.
Surprisingly, that was never considered for this site, even though it would connect what will likely become one of Vancouver’s most prominent entertainment destinations with Expo Boulevard underneath. Instead, the plan is to use that connection for loading and services. This is unfortunate, as this event itself proved underground areas can thrive in our city.
The library’s lower level is always humming with activity, as it hosts various lectures and meetings, several of which we have attended. Naturally, there is always a really interesting mix of people, and this night was no exception. It also showed how much city staff values all members of the public, as we saw them treat people dressed in luxury suits the same as those clothed in tatters.
Some had real concerns the steam plant upgrade may lead to disruptions in the energy grid, and came to voice their fears. Others were well-meaning individuals eager to express their ideas. That said, one person was so enthusiastic they accidentally broke part of the wider context model.
In the end, roughly 50 people turned up, which was more than either of us expected, but very few appeared to leave feedback. None the less, Darren and I made sure to take a couple minutes to make our thoughts known, and you can too by commenting here.
City Duo 