Woodward's 43
Alternative namesW43, W Building
General information
TypeMixed-use: residential, commercial
Architectural stylePostmodern / Structural Expressionism
Location128 West Cordova Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 0E6
Coordinates49°16′58.6″N 123°6′29.1″W / 49.282944°N 123.108083°W / 49.282944; -123.108083
Construction started2006
Completed2010
Height
Roof122.3 m (401 ft)
Technical details
Floor count41 + 2 below grade
Floor area36,253 m2 (390,220 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators3
Design and construction
Architect(s)Henriquez Partners Architects
DeveloperW Redevelopment Group, Inc.
Main contractorIntertech Construction Ltd.
DesignationsLEED Silver
Other information
Number of units366 apartments
Parking371 parking spaces
References
[1]

Woodward's 43, also known as W43 or the W Building, is a 122.3 m (401 ft) tall mixed-use skyscraper located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Description

The building was strongly influenced by New York's landmark Flatiron Building (Daniel Burnham, 1902), especially in the building's roof cornice. The building's design is inspired by its historical context, specifically the neighbouring Dominion Building. The exterior steel skeleton of the screens evokes the steel construction method used in Vancouver in the early 20th century. The roof of the building features an outdoor patio with a small pool and an outdoor garden.[2]

History

Since the bankruptcy of Woodward's in 1993, the original Woodward's Building remained vacant except for a housing occupation in 2002 that initiated the redevelopment process. In 2003, the City of Vancouver, led by City Council member Jim Green, purchased the original Woodward's Building from the province for $5 million and began a public consultation process, asking the community what they wanted from the redevelopment. After a two-stage competition between three developers in September 2004, the city selected Westbank Projects/Peterson Investment Group to develop the project with the architecture firm of Henriquez Partners led by Gregory Henriquez and structural engineers Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers. The 400 million dollars, nearly one million square foot project, includes 536 market housing units, 125 singles non-market housing units to be operated by PHS Community Services, 75 family non-market housing units to be handled by Affordable Housing Society, Nesters Market, London Drugs, TD Canada Trust, the National Film Board of Canada and civic offices, a daycare, public atrium and plaza, and a new 130,000 square foot addition to Simon Fraser University 's downtown campus, the SFU School for Contemporary Arts.[3]

The redevelopment was seen by many as a key to revitalizing the Downtown Eastside. However, the demolition of the structure in 2006 and redevelopment of the site has been met with much local resistance from the neighbourhood's existing residents. Woodward's redevelopment is complete, with many residents and businesses in the buildings.

The market housing units constructed in the building feature both modern-look finishes and vintage analog thermostats. The oldest part of the complex (built 1903–1908) was restored and serves as a non-profit office and community space (31,500 sqft), with tenants including W2 Community Media Arts. The development permit for construction was issued on January 26, 2007, and while substantial completion was scheduled for June 2010, delays pushed that completion date back to September 2010.[4]

The "W" neon sign, which topped the building on the Eiffel Tower replica, was removed before the demolition[5] and was replicated and re-installed on January 9, 2010, now boasting energy-saving LED lights.[6] The original W is now displayed in the open area next to The Charles Bar at the new Woodward's Building. In 2008 the Vancouver artist Stan Douglas completed a 30' by 50' image on glass depicting the Gastown Riots of 1971. Together with a basketball hoop, the oversized photograph has become the central focus within the atrium of the new Woodward's Redevelopment.

The redevelopment of the Woodward's site had the side-effect of displacing some of Vancouver's sex worker population;[7] however, prostitutes remain in the Downtown Eastside area.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Woodward's 43 – The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  2. ↑ "Woodward's 43 – The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  3. ↑ "City of Vancouver News Release: SFU's School for the Contemporary Arts joins Woodward's development". vancouver.ca. Archived from the original on 2005-03-21.
  4. ↑ City of Vancouver Real Estate Services (May 13, 2011). "The Future of Woodward's". Vancouver.ca. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Canada.Com | Homepage | Canada.Com".
  6. ↑ "Photos & video: Woodward's W sign returns to Vancouver skyline". 9 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Y57.ca".
  8. ↑ "National Post".
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