Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/523530
J UNE 2015 | 73 RENDERING COURTESY CEI ARCHITECTURE PLANNING INTERIORS 980 Howe The City of Vancouver's public art component was incorporated into the Manulife building by the installation of four strips of dichroic glass wrapped around the southeast corner of the upper floors. The glass changes colour from blue to green depending on the viewing angle and adds visual interest to the surrounding horizon of the down- town core. LED backlighting was also installed behind this glass to illuminate and allow it to stand out after dark. "What's important is that it doesn't just express something interesting for the build- ing itself, it's also a refined foil for the entertainment district to the east," says Scott. "It's a fun yet sophisticated back- drop for one section of Granville Street that is known for its neon and glitz. The dichroic glass is almost like a television screen up high overlooking Granville Street's pedestrian corridor. From an artistic standpoint, it's a piece of two- dimensional sculpture that becomes animated with a play of light as people move past the building." Views looking out from 980 Howe are best taken in from the penthouse terrace on the 16th f loor adjacent to the second of two conference rooms. "A large portion of the outdoor roof ter- race is covered for weather protection by a floating roof that cantilevers out from the face of the building by approxi- mately 12 to 15 feet," says Endall. Being on one of the busiest intersec- tions in downtown Vancouver provided some challenges in the building process for the Manulife tower. "Our team came up with numerous creative solutions to each challenge, while minimizing impacts to our neighbours and ensur- ing safety for the public and our crews," says Brian Esplen, senior project man- ager, Pivotal Project Management. "Our site was subject to a city street use permit that regulated the times that we were able to block off lanes for activi- ties such as material deliveries and con- crete pours. This restriction required detailed co-ordination and communi- cation between our team and the City, which was successfully managed." A