Real Estate News 
Unique Office Redevelopment Projects and Urban Infill Sites are Increasingly Common
In March 2021, Vancouver’s Director of Planning approved Uptown Property Group’s application for ~157,000 sq.ft. of new office space at 619-625 West Hastings Street.
What makes this project particularly unique is that the new tower will be attached to the east façade of the heritage Royal Bank building at 675 West Hastings St. (also owned by Uptown Property Group).
The modern 28-storey office tower, designed by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership and overseen by heritage advocates Donald Luxton and Associates, will be slotted into a 6,242 sf lot with street frontage of only 52 feet. Given the modest land area, the boutique project will have floor plates ranging from 5,400 to 6,100 square feet.
As part of its redevelopment the existing 20-storey RBC building will support the new building with the installation of a series of steel plates. The two buildings will share a light well that will provide sunlight and air for occupants, along with a public space for visitors to the buildings.
Originally designed S.G. Davenport, chief architect for the Royal Bank, and constructed in the 1920s/1930s, the Art Deco and Neo-Romanesque property is a landmark in Vancouver. The project was originally designed to have a twin building to the east, and although the Great Depression halted this expansion the architect’s vision will be realized after nearly a century.
Most Vancouverites and tourists are familiar with the building, and it holds a special place in my heart having been home to my first job in Vancouver. Below is a look at other heritage redevelopment projects, and the creative teams who blended historic architecture with new construction.
Notable Heritage Restoration and Development Projects in Vancouver
1. 564 Beatty Street
- Ownership: Reliance Properties
- ~50,000 sq.ft.
- Heritage restoration and commercial addition. Levels 2-6 are fully restored heritage brick and beam and levels 7-10 are new concrete and glass construction
- Office tenants include Ping Identity and the retail is occupied by Chambar Restaurant
2. 151 West Hastings Street
- Ownership: Allied Properties REIT
- ~38,500 sq.ft.
- Fully restored heritage façade
- The building is fully occupied by Spaces Coworking (IWG)
3. 1110 Hamilton Street
- Ownership: Local Vancouver family
- ~48,000 sq.ft.
- Tenants Include Unity Technologies and Yaletown Brewpub
4. 1290 Homer Street
- Ownership: Local Vancouver family
- ~31,000 sq.ft. of office/retail space
- Rehabilitation of the historical facades on a recently completed 6 storey building
- Majority of the office will be occupied by PayByPhone and the retail space remains available for lease
4. 155 Water Street
- Ownership: Lowtide Properties Group
- ~75,000 sq.ft. of office space
- Recently completed rehabilitation and integration of the historical facades at 151 and 157 Water Street
- Tenant: Microsoft
Developments Proposed or Under Construction
Alongside the completed projects above, below are a couple of innovative office developments that are either proposed or under construction in the city.
5. 800 Granville St.
- Ownership: Bonnis Properties, architect Perkins Will Vancouver
- ~400,000 sq.ft. of large floor plate office space (if approved)
- Proposed as a juxtaposition between old and new with complete preservation and rehabilitation of the Commodore Ballroom and bowling lanes
- Will include the retention of four additional heritage facades, and a design that speaks to the street’s historic neon signs and electric character
- Status: Rezoning Application Submitted
6. The Post
- Ownership: Quadreal Property Group
- ~1.1 million sq.ft. of office space across two towers (plus retail space)
- The Post occupies a full city block and was once the main regional processing facility for Canada Post – an historic landmark and an important example of Vancouver’s mid-century architecture
- Amazon will occupy the majority of the office space, with a 50,000 square feet Loblaws City Market
- Status: under construction with phased completion 2022/2023
