bcbusiness.ca 134 BCBusiness july 2014
Xie guides us through a hive of activity: work-
ers are printing architectural plans, cutting components on
a laser machine and assembling pieces like a puzzle, paint-
ing on details with pinpoint paintbrushes and trimming
the leaves of miniature trees that dot the landscapes. The
company has been in business for 23 years and now has 32
full-time employees, with clients from Victoria to Toronto
to Southern California.
While there are a few model shops in Vancouver, Xie
contends that "they cannot deliver this kind of quality,
especially on a very tight deadline." The firm delivers each
model personally, since courier companies won't insure the
precious cargo. It develops models for many areas that have
been or are being transformed: Metrotown, the Cambie
corridor, Kingsway and Richmond. The River Green project
is here, and you can see the vision for the now-industrial
stretch of waterfront that will be Richmond's answer to
Coal Harbour: tiny upscale residences line the edges of the
Fraser River with parkland, waterfront restaurants and
shops along the seawall.
under construction in an
unassuming east Vancouver
workshop, sharon Xie (top left)
and her co-workers give shape
to the condos, small and large,
that will redefine the cityscape
in Vancouver and as far away as
toronto and southern california.
p132-137-ABModel_july.indd 134 2014-05-29 10:43 AM
