Past and future collide in downtown post office redevelopment plans
Artist renderings show 3 glass towers sprouting out of Canada Post cube in downtown Vancouver
What's futuristic sleek on top, boxy modernist on the bottom and sure to provoke reactions of love and hate and everything in between?
Answer: The proposed redevelopment of the main post office building in downtown Vancouver.
Renderings of the massive project — described in the documents as "the largest heritage revitalization in Vancouver history" — depict three glass towers sprouting out of the top of the 1958-built Canada Post cube, which occupies an entire city block.
The plans for the redevelopment — called The Post on Georgia — are part of a rezoning application filed with the city by Musson Cattell Mackay Partnership architects.
"The Post on Georgia seeks to both distinguish itself and be compatible, subordinate and respectful towards the existing heritage building," reads the design rational statement.
"This is achieved by not attempting to replicate or assimilate but rather differentiate the new buildings above, contrasting with the existing heritage podium in both form and materiality."
Highlights of the redevelopment include:
- Three towers including 17 storeys of office and 18 and 20 storeys of residential.
- 427 market rental units and 327 condos.
- Six levels of parking, including 1,168 bicycle spaces.
- A 49-space childcare facility.
In addition, the south face of the redevelopment will become the street level focus of the project, in an attempt to "maximize retail activity and add connected outdoor space," according to the documents.
A community open house will be held Nov. 22, from 5 p.m - 8 p.m. PT at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
The public is invited to submit feedback online.