At the intersection of Vancouver’s two city grids
Just two blocks from waterfront in Coal Harbour, Cardero is a modern obelisk acknowledging its role as one enters Downtown Vancouver from the North Shore on West Georgia Street. The building’s distinctive origami-like screens were inspired by its nautical surroundings – seagulls and seaplanes in Coal Harbour, and the hang-gliders that can be seen catapulting off Grouse Mountain in the distance. Characterized by deeply angled V-shapes formed in white steel, the resulting dual form provides shading and privacy for residents while reducing solar heat gain.
The building has been carefully sculpted to acknowledge the transition from the West End to the downtown core. The development comprises a slender 26-storey, mixed-use residential, office and retail tower that anchors the corner of West Georgia and Cardero streets. Along Pender Street, the scale of the tower drops to 21-storeys to respond to the character of the neighbouring towers. The tower sits atop a four-storey podium with at-grade retail and 45,000 ft2 of office space above. Designed to LEED-Gold standards, the project will also connect to a future neighbourhood district energy network.
Type
Location
Vancouver, BC
Size
198,000 ft2
Awards
- Future House Awards, Mixed-Use Buildings, 2023
- Grands Prix du Design Awards, Grand Prix Winner: Architecture, 2022
- Grands Prix du Design Awards, Platinum Winner: Residential Building / Apartment & Condo ≥ 10 Storeys, 2022
- LOOP Design Awards, Architecture | High Rise Buildings, 2022
- Architecture MasterPrize, High Rise Buildings, 2021
- Architecture MasterPrize, Mixed Use Architecture, 2021
- Architizer A+ Awards, Popular Choice Winner – Residential, Multi-Unit Housing (16+ Floors), 2021
- Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat Awards, Award of Excellence, 2021
View from West Georgia and Cardero Streets looking East 
Detail view of architectural sunshades 
View from West Georgia Street looking Northeast 
View from West Georgia Street looking North 
View from West Georgia and Cardero Streets looking East 
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