|
CITY OF VANCOUVER ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT |
Report Date: |
February 15, 2005 | |
Author: |
John Madden | |
Phone No.: |
604.871.6659 | |
RTS No.: |
04929 | |
CC File No.: |
3104 | |
Meeting Date: |
March 1, 2005 |
TO: |
Vancouver City Council |
FROM: |
Director of Current Planning |
SUBJECT: |
Appointment of Architects for Higher Building Review Panel: 1133 West Georgia Street |
RECOMMENDATION
THAT pursuant to the General Policy for Higher Buildings, requiring enhanced review of buildings significantly exceeding existing height limits, Mr. Peter Ellis, Mr. Matthias Sauerbruch, Mr. Arthur Erickson, and Mr. Bing Thom be appointed to the Urban Design Panel as special appointees for the purpose of reviewing a proposed tall building at 1133 West Georgia Street.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager for Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the above recommendation.
COUNCIL POLICY
On April 22, 1997, with further updates on May 15, 2003, Council adopted a General Policy for Higher Buildings (see Appendix "A" for more details) which included provisions for consideration of buildings up to 600 feet on identified sites in the Central Business District. Provisions in the policy require that the buildings should not exceed height limits of the Council-approved view corridors and that the buildings exhibit the highest order of architectural excellence.
The General Policy for Higher Buildings requires that applications for proposed height increases above what is already permitted be the subject of an enhanced review process. This process includes comprehensive review by staff, review by the Urban Design Panel - augmented with four world-renowned architects -and approval by the Development Permit Board. Special attention of the enhanced review is focused on ensuring that the application will achieve the highest order of architectural excellence. The policy also requires that the building should be approved by Council.
PURPOSE
This report recommends the appointment of four additional architects to the Urban Design Panel for the purpose of reviewing a rezoning application for a proposed building located at 1133 West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver that significantly exceeds existing height limits.
BACKGROUND
In 1997, the Downtown Vancouver Skyline Study concluded that Vancouver's skyline would benefit from the addition of a handful of buildings exceeding current height limits to add visual interest to Vancouver's skyline. This led to the General Policy on Higher Buildings. The 1997 study noted that the opportunities for such buildings were restricted due to a limited number of large development sites in the downtown. There were at least five sites identified where buildings exceeding the 450 foot height limit are possible and at least two sites in the northwest corner of the Central Business District where heights up to 400 feet (exceeding the 300 foot limit) might be considered.
Eight years later, five of the seven identified sites for higher buildings have been developed or are in the development application process:
· In 2001, a development application was approved for the first phase of a 22-storey commercial office building at 550 Burrard Street (Bentall 5).
· Also, in 2001, a development application was approved for 401 Burrard Street for a 19-storey office building.
· In 2003, Council approved a rezoning application adjacent to the Hotel Georgia (801 West Georgia) permitting a 50 storey,162 m high.
· A rezoning application for another high building located at 1120 West Georgia Street (Shangri-La) was approved and will be the tallest building in the city at 183 metres (600 feet).
· In 2004, an application for a 122 metre (400 feet) tower at 550 Bute Street (The Melville) was approved following the enhanced Higher Building Review process.
Staff believe that applications that have been reviewed through the enhanced process have benefited in terms of the design response given to the panel’s comments and that this process reflects the intent of the general policy to ensure that taller buildings in the downtown are superlative in their importance as prominent elements on the skyline.
Presently, City staff have received a rezoning application for 1133 West Georgia Street, which is seeking to build a 550 foot mixed-use tower (see map in Appendix “A”). This application will be reviewed as part of the higher building review process. While the site is not identified as one of the probable sites for a higher building identified in the General Policy for Higher Buildings, those sites emphasized properties which at the time had redevelopment potential. At the time this policy was developed, the site was the subject of a development application. At this point in time, the site can be considered on the basis that it is within the area in which buildings to a height of 600 feet can be considered, a portion of the site is unaffected by view cones, and the site is on one of the downtown ceremonial streets as required by policy.
DISCUSSION
Appointment of Architects to the Urban Design Panel for 1133 West Georgia Street
The Architectural Institute of British Columbia, which is the governing body that sanctions the practice of architects in the province, has recommended four architects as temporary appointees to the Urban Design Panel under the General Policy for Higher Buildings. Staff have contacted these architects and confirmed the availability of the following:
Mr. Peter Ellis, based in Chicago, Illinois, has advanced the design of sustainable high-rise towers and has broken new ground through his commitment to the application of sustainable design principles. His understanding of scale and local context result in projects tailored to their sites while expressing unique creative visions.
Mr. Matthias Sauerbruch, based in Berlin, Germany, specializes in innovative and expressive design forms for mixed-use developments. Sauerbruch-Hutton architects offer experience in the design and implementation of low-energy building concepts. Their projects offer advanced solutions by formulating a fully integrated design process that addresses technical, functional and engineering requirements at the beginning of the process. Several of the firm’s projects have been awarded national and international prizes.
Mr. Arthur Erickson has contributed many buildings of distinctive innovative design in Vancouver and internationally. Mr. Erickson is an advocate of cultural awareness, and is a fervent explorer of human and natural environments. His buildings, though remarkably diverse, are attentive to the local context such that form and landscape are mutually complimented.
Mr. Bing Thom has earned an international reputation for innovative responses to integrating a range of commercial, residential and cultural uses to create a vibrant and sustainable whole. His distinguished career has been recognized with Canada's highest honour, the Order of Canada, for his contribution to architecture. Most recently, he was awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal for services to his country.
As in previous enhanced review processes, these appointments will only be applicable to the review of the proposed project at 1133 West Georgia Street. Once Council has approved these additional appointees, staff will proceed with making arrangements for the review which is expected to occur on March 15th and 16th, 2005. In addition, the two visiting architects will present their works and ideas at a public presentation on the evening of March 15, 2005.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The additional expenses related to the enhanced review process are incurred by the applicant consistent with the Higher Building Application Fee bylaw.
CONCLUSION
With the appointment of the special appointees, the Higher Building Review process can commence.
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APPENDIX "A"
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