Once an industrial area marked by shipyards and lumber mills, the Coal Harbour convention district on Vancouver’s downtown peninsula has been the focus of redevelopment efforts since the 1980s. The new district has finally succeeded in revitalizing the area by knitting the convention center into a larger strategic plan. The building defines new public open space and extends the city’s pedestrian activity to the waterfront, while a public promenade and bike trail link to the city’s park system. A major civic plaza and a 6-acre living roof (the largest in Canada) create a balance between the urban and the natural.
Jury: “The project transforms the convention center typology into a true ‘civic’ piece of the city. The balance of built and open space is spectacular, and the linear orientation of the park and convention center take full advantage of the water’s edge.”
Client: “Our LEED Platinum–certified facility successfully engages, preserves, and integrates with the surrounding natural ecology of the waterfront, park spaces, and urban setting.” —Craig Lehto, assistant general manager, Vancouver Convention Centre
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