Vancouver’s Oakridge Shopping Centre is in the midst of a major redevelopment that will see the 1950s-era mall and surrounding parking lot transformed into an urban multi-use development and transit hub. The team behind the project includes Westbank, QuadReal, Henriquez Partners Architects, Adamson Associates, Revery Architecture and PFS Studio.
The latest permit application is the sixth submitted for the massive project and includes plans for a 28-storey residential condominium referred to as Building 12. Designed by Henriquez Partners Architects, the building would include one storey of retail use, one storey of mixed retail and offices, a three-storey office podium and three storeys of underground parking.
The application also reveals plans for a sprawling rooftop amenity that would be built over the lower retail and commercial spaces. The design of the terrace boasts an organic shape that drapes over the buildings and extends upward onto the residential tower, which would have significant greenery on the balconies.
At the heart of the new public park would be The Commons and Upper Green, a large open lawn area and recreational space for outdoor events, water features and fitness facilities. A small pavilion at the north end would serve as a covered space for yoga or tai chi, while a food hall with restaurants would be situated along the eastern edge. An 800-metre running/walking loop would cut through The Commons, connecting it to other greenspaces throughout the development and to High Street, the community’s outdoor pedestrian retail corridor.
Inside, Building 12 would house 171 suites, ranging from studios to three-bedroom layouts with open plans. Each suite features zero threshold sliding doors that open up to the exterior balconies, extending the living spaces outside. Balconies would be equipped with planters, creating privacy while extending the ground-level park’s landscaping up the building façade.
Although onsite amenities haven’t been revealed, the application documents show that 2,304 square feet of amenities would be included. There would also be 306 spots for bicycles and 556 vehicle parking spaces split between the residential, office, retail and restaurant components.
In the neighbourhood, Claridge House is a two-tower development proposed for 5740 Cambie Street, just across the street from Oakridge. The 27-storey complex could replace an existing three-storey commercial plaza, adding even more density to the neighbourhood.
