Acton Ostry Architects

Yaletown Square features the rehabilitation of a two-storey heritage warehouse building with a three-storey contemporary addition above. Originally constructed in 1908, the MacPherson & Teetzel Company Building was designed by the prominent architectural firm of Parr & Fee. Redevelopment of the building includes a mix of shell commercial space located in the lower heavy timber portion with new shell office space floating above in a steel and glass addition. Heritage interventions include preservation of the original exterior masonry walls and wood windows, restoration of the storefront and cornice, and seismic upgrading of the historic heavy timber structure.

project

Yaletown Square

location

Vancouver, BC

client

Sylvia House Inc.

completion

2022

size

2,625 m2

heritage restoration and new addition.

heritage restoration and new addition

sustainability

LEED Gold equivalent

heritage restoration and new addition.

heritage restoration and new addition

The design draws a clear distinction between what is historic and what is new and the materials and massing have been carefully considered to be compatible with the exterior form of the historic building.

Daily Hive

Homer Street.

Homer Street

Hamilton Street.

Hamilton Street

raised pedestrian walkway.

raised pedestrian walkway

MacPherson & Teetzel Company Building c. 1935.

MacPherson & Teetzel Company Building c. 1935

before construction c. 2019.

before construction c. 2019

rehabilitated heavy timber structure.

rehabilitated heavy timber structure

heavy timber structure.

heavy timber structure

new steel structure.

new steel structure

cornice reconstruction.

cornice reconstruction

This modest warehouse in Yaletown was built in 1908 during a flurry of construction when Canadian Pacific Railway released the area near their tracks for new wholesale facilities for the fast-growing city.

Changing Vancouver – 2014