Real Estate News 
Rendition Developments recently submitted their development application to the City of Vancouver for a new office and light-industrial development, located at 37-45 West 7th Avenue in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.
The future 4-storey, mixed-use building will replace a dated commercial building. The project, designed by FRANCL, is inspired by mid-century modern architecture.
The development application includes the following:
- 4-storey mixed-use Industrial/Office Building
- Max building height of 68.1 ft from grade
- Total floor area of ~48,336 sf at a 3.0 FSR
- Approximate floor plates between 10,000 – 12,000 sf
- 2 levels of underground parking with 62 parking spaces and 24 bike parking spaces
The proposal falls under the site’s existing I-1 zoning and is considered conditional, subject to the approval of the Director of Planning.
Tech Office had an opportunity to sit down with Rendition’s Matt Dixon, Senior Development Manager, to discuss the upcoming project.
Matt shed some light on the more salient details of the project and their inspiration for the development:
Mid-Century Inspired Architecture
- Even before the site was acquired, the Rendition team was looking for the perfect site to accommodate a mid-century modern inspired building.
- The team expressed that many of the existing designs of this era are timeless and in style today.
Our goal with this building is to balance timeless design with modern, post-covid era concepts of space planning and employee wellness. I believe FRANCL has hit the nail on the head with this design and we are excited to see it come to fruition.
Matt Dixon, Senior Development Manager at Rendition Developments
Bringing the Outside In, with Inspired Green Spaces
- A growing piece of feedback the Rendition team observed over the last couple of years is the importance of connection with green space – and if possible, green space outdoors.
- In Vancouver, this imperative is key for business owners and their team members, as this connection with nature resonates with individuals who choose to live and work in Vancouver.
Blank Canvas for Occupants to Design
- At project onset, the team toyed with certain internal design elements such as light wells to emphasize their “outside in” wellness principle.
- After studying other creative spaces around the world, they thought it best to keep the floor plates large, open and clear of obstruction.
- It is more important to ensure that the base building quality is high, while leaving a blank canvas for tenants to design their perfect environments.
Prepared for everything, ready for everyone
- Rendition has designed and developed buildings for all types of business across portfolio in Vancouver and wanted this building to reflect their learnings.
- They will install 10 foot clear elevator cab heights to accommodate large items for manufacturing or production.
- Adequate power and live load structure will be available for almost any type of use.
- The team has designed mechanical and thermal performance to be extremely energy efficient.
- They’ve ensured that window-wall coverage will maximize natural light for wellness purposes, while minimizing heat loss and maintaining a sustainable footprint today, and in perpetuity.
Rendition has completed 4 buildings in the Mount Pleasant area in the last 7 years and is currently building a similar project at 2055 Columbia St. known as “Fifth + Columbia”. They’re excited to continue developing one of Vancouver’s most unique and interesting neighbourhoods.
