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J UNE 2015 | 67 Marine Gateway RENDERINGS COURTESY PERKINS+WILL Marine Gateway by MATT CURRIE I t's safe to say that with any high-profile development, all involved feel the pres- sure to create something that becomes an indelible addition to the local skyline. However, it's a rare project that affords its developer the chance to truly redefine the area it inhabits. That's what Marine Gateway represents for PCI Group. Situated at 400 SW Marine Drive, f lanked by Vancouver's busiest bus loop to the south and a Canada Line sta- tion to the west, Marine Gateway was among the first projects in the Cambie Corridor redevelopment. As a result, during the planning phase, PCI, archi- tect Perkins+Will and general contractor Ledcor Construction Limited had to work in unusually close consultation with tran- sit companies and the City of Vancouver – which was still sussing out its policy for development along the Canada Line. "The site challenged all parties to try to put a very intense mixed-use develop- ment on a tight site," admits Ryan Bragg, principal at Perkins+Will. "Our greatest challenge was facilitating a conversa- tion and a process that allowed for all stakeholders to have valid and meaning- ful input while at the same time creating an elegant design." Once all voices were finally accounted for, the vision that emerged was of an animated and diverse mixed-use tran- sit hub with a vibrant public realm that would generate activity in the region from dawn till dusk and beyond, form- ing the heart of a revitalized south Vancouver community. Several years later, that vision has nearly become reality in the form of twin towers (29 and 38 storeys, respec- tively) housing 416 condos and 45 housing rental units; a 12-floor office building, 11-theatre Cineplex cinema and a striking pedestrian walkway dubbed High Street. "The Perkins+Will team maximized the utilization of available space for the client, requiring a truly integrated design between all disciplines," says MCW engi- neer Adam Juck. "The design team were squeezing washrooms and service corri- dors in spaces that typically would remain as inaccessible, unused space in most buildings. This resulted in a very challeng- ing, yet exciting design process, requiring the extensive use of BIM 3D modelling of all disciplines work to ensure construc- tability," adds MCW's Karen Spoelstra. Looking at the almost-completed product now, however, you'd be hard- pressed to argue that they fell short on the elegant front. "We have a highly articulated cur- tain wall on the office building," Bragg explains, "and it's countered by the residential [tower] cladding, which is a window wall; but in order to keep the performance of the residential buildings up, we have a very high-performing solid wall, which is clad with some interest- ing materials. We used a spectra panel that changes colour depending on which angle you're looking at while the sun is hitting it. So there's going to be some sub- tle play to the materials on the residen- tial building, which will give it a lightness and a freshness off-setting a very clean, articulated curtain wall on the office." The High Street, arguably the proj- ect's signature feature, embodies the City of Vancouver's desire for Marine Gateway to have an appealing public space to, as Ledcor Constructions's Jonathan Boyce puts it, "break up the large mass of build- ing" with an efficient yet vibrant corridor across the development. What's more, Boyce adds, "the retail features on High Street all have differ- ent building materials for each CRU, so it looks a little bit more like neighbour- hood storefronts." LOCATION 400 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER PCI Group ARCHITECT Perkins + Will Canada GENERAL CONTRACTOR Ledcor Construction Limited BUILDING ENVELOPE CONSULTANT Level 5 Consulting Ltd. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers MECHANICAL CONSULTANT MCW Consultants Ltd. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT PWL Partnership INTERIOR DESIGN BYU Design TOTAL SIZE 875,000 square feet (plus 525,000 square feet parkade) TOTAL COST Undisclosed 3:47 PM

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