GBLARCHITECTS Building in the Park concept is not successful. Attempting to wrap the Park around the tower is not working. 1.1 1
The building now has a base which defines the edge of the Park and is orthogonal to Helmcken and Richards Streets. 508HELMCKEN
GBLARCHITECTS The tower is too dominating of the Park. The building presses too closely to the property line. The tower has been pulled back an additional 12 feet from the park. The canted tower edge has been pulled back to the vertical. The tower has been scaled with a base. The new tower now resides entirely within the footprint of the existing building. 1.2 2
508HELMCKEN The building doesn t respond to Brookland Court. The building base has been reoriented on Helmcken Street to follow the alignment of Brookland Court. An 8 storey tower setback at the lane matches the Brookland Court cornice line. The cut out recess at the Helmcken and Richards corner also reflects this cornice line. The building setbacks along the Helmcken frontage have been staggered to transition with the Brookland Court footprint. An additional orthogonal podium along Richards Street compliments the Brookland Court sensibility. 1.3 3
GBLARCHITECTS There are unclear edge relationships at the building base. Townhouses do not conform with setback precedents in the Downtown South. The school is not well defined or identified. The Richards Street townhouses have been aligned with the guidelined 12 foot setback from the property line. The school has been squared to the park edge and undercut from the tower above, clarifying its identity. 1.4 4
508HELMCKEN The building top feels too flat. It should be sculpted. The curved building facades have been replaced with angled facades which reflect the light less uniformly and lend more animation to the parapet edge of the tower. Additional bevel cuts have been added to two corners of the upper tower. Fully recessed balcony channels have been extended through the top parapet. 1.5 5
GBLARCHITECTS 10,300 SF 10,130 SF The tower floor plate is too big. The tower floor plate has been slightly reduced. The curving sides have been replaced by less bulgy bevelled sides. The flaring floor plan has been squared. Upper floor plates have been further bevelled back. 1.6 6
508HELMCKEN The slot up the side of the tower may be proportionally too wide. The width of the slot up the tower on the Helmcken frontage has been reduced. 1.7 7
GBLARCHITECTS PREVIOUS ELEVATIONS DAVIE STREET ELEVATION HELMCKEN STREET ELEVATION RICHARDS STREET ELEVATION LANE ELEVATION There may be too much density. 1.8 8
508HELMCKEN NEW ELEVATIONS DAVIE STREET ELEVATION HELMCKEN STREET ELEVATION RICHARDS STREET ELEVATION LANE ELEVATION The density has been reduced by 6000 square feet. The reconfiguration of the tower plan and the incorporation of a base improves the scale of the structure. The improved fit with the neighbourhood and park alleviates the overall density.
GBLARCHITECTS VIEW CONE C2.1 VIEW CONE F1.1 508 HELMCKEN 508 HELMCKEN VIEW FROM LAUREL LANDBRIDGE VIEW FROM CHOKLIT PARK The building top should be sensitive as it contributes to the skyline from the Laurel Landbridge view cone. We have provided an indication of how the new building will sit within the view from the Laurel Landbridge as well as Choklit Park. 1.9 9
508HELMCKEN Vehicle maneuvering in lane is unclear. We have improved the maneuverability for limited service vehicles entering the lane and requiring a turn around on site in order to proceed back out onto Helmcken. This has been accomplished by moving the building and increasing the site area at the south end of the lane. 1.10 10