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M A R C H 2 0 2 5 | 63 5055 Joyce 5055 JOYCE by ROBIN BRUNET R ising 36 storeys above the Joyce- Collingwood SkyTrain Station in Vancouver, 5055 Joyce – Westbank's latest residential tower – is remarkably tactile yet visually com- pelling. A distinct copper façade is studded on every level with modular balconies and select terraces, can- tilevering gently outward above a podium of retail and a grand lobby. Westbank says of the tower's appearance, "The design of Joyce II [5055 Joyce] is influenced by the heritage of northwest modernist light- weight structural systems, balconies of steel outriggers, nautical concepts, and contemporary prefabrication. "The resulting tower's elegant ver- tical form dynamically shifts at the podium, midpoint, and top, creating dramatic tension points, addressing the contextual environment of Joyce Street, the North shore mountains, and downtown Vancouver." The project benefited significantly from Westbank having a long-time existing work relationship with archi- tects Perkins&Will, and the latter's senior associate, Cillian Collins, notes that Westbank "has a design sensi- bility, which means there is a lot of attention to detail and materiality, from layout to the finish of the suites and shared amenities." Westbank's intent was to build on the site's proximity to the SkyTrain station and a BC Parkway bike lane, making 5055 Joyce a true transit-ori- ented development. Hence, it was determined that the tower would contain 360 rental homes, with an amenity program at the top of the tower featuring an indoor lounge and roof deck boasting panoramic views. Activating the public realm at ground level was an important aspect of the project, and accord- ing to Collins, this was achieved "by the creation of a new small urban plaza at the main entrance to show- case the use of active transportation, with shared bike facilities available and visible in the residential lobby." By far, the main design feature of what Collins refers to as an otherwise "simple and elegant building" was an innovative approach to the creation of the balconies of each residential unit: an especially important consideration given that 5055 Joyce has ambitious sustainability performance require- ments through the City of Vancouver's Green Building Policy for Rezonings. Collins explains what Perkins&Will were motivated to avoid: "Typically, balconies in high-rise construc- tion are cantilevered extensions of the usual concrete floor plate. This results in a significant source of ther- mal bridging, resulting in heat loss and risk of condensation. It impacts not only occupant comfort but also the resiliency and durability of the building and its carbon emissions." Instead, Perkins&Will proposed something special. "This project fea- tures discrete steel connections through the high-performance cur- tain wall to pick up prefabricated balconies, reducing the thermal bridging impact and allowing the cur- tain wall to be installed," Collins says. A seamless façade around the modular balcony approach was designed, utilizing customizable SBCW-720 unitized curtain wall with special colour anodized metal pan- els. Triple glazing with thermally broken metal panels complemented Perkins&Will's design and achieved a superior thermal performance. Collins says, "We benefited from Westbank being very hands-on in the design process, and they love nothing better than drilling down to decide the most appropriate materials and fin- ishes." This resulted in an abundance of wood panelling, slate and stone floors for the interior of the build- ing, as well as oversized solid doors beneath a canopy for the entrance. As for the main challenge of the project, Collins points out that "The integration and delivery of the facade detail challenged the status quo, par- ticularly at a time when labour and material costs were rising rapidly. So it was a collective effort between the design consultants – us as the archi- tects, building envelope engineer RDH Building Science, structural engineer Fast + Epp, and mechanical engineer Introba – to work with the owner and construction team to ensure that the design intent was met." Kanin Construction Management Inc. broke ground on the site in 2023 by excavating what would become four levels of underground parking. As of February, 5055 Joyce was almost complete, with a launch expected this summer. "With every new project we try to look at how we can contribute some- thing unique, necessary, and beautiful to the community. 5055 Joyce will bring new housing, with family-oriented homes, below-market homes, as well as amenities to the vibrant and fast-grow- ing Joyce-Collingwood Neighbourhood," says Ariele Peterson, communications at Westbank. "Alongside our 5050 Joyce Street project, we hope we have helped create a new hub for Vancouver's east side that will continue to support our city's long-term growth." A LOCATION 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver, B.C. OWNER /DEVELOPER Westbank Projects Corp. ARCHITECT Perkins&Will GENER AL CONTR ACTOR Kanin Construction Management Inc. STRUCTUR AL CONSULTANT Fast + Epp MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Introba ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Nemetz (S/A) & Associates BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT RDH Building Science CIVIL CONSULTANT Binnie GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTANT GeoPacific Consultants Ltd. L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT HAPA Collaborative TOTAL SIZE 275,000 square feet TOTAL COST Undisclosed R EN D ER I N GS CO U RT E S Y P ER K I N S &W I L L

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