River District Parcel 17

An historically underserviced retail area in southeast Vancouver, River District is an up-and-coming neighbourhood and Vancouver’s last and largest waterfront neighbourhood. River District is located on a magnificent 130-acre site on the banks of the Fraser River and, upon build-out, will have 10,432 homes with a population of approximately 18,000 residents. IBI Group provided architecture services for the design of Parcel 17.

Composed of four parts, Parcel 17 consists of a podium, tower, mid-rise and amenity structure. Each is architecturally distinct yet blends into a cohesive overall development. The two-storey podium is composed of townhomes and double-height retail units, all with loading and parking entries on the east side. The streetscape of the podium is broken into 20 ft. bays with stone-clad columns dividing the frontage, which give opportunity for street lighting, banners and sign blades. Retail stores are glazed with opportunities for sizable operating windows. The large retailers’ non-active frontages are covered by more active retail units and other active uses.

The 19-storey tower is made of concrete and glass and marks the northwest entry to the town centre and its open space. To bring architectural interest, and to mark the open space’s kinked form, the south balconies are angled at 16 degrees. Floor plates above the ninth floor have been reduced in size, yet still remain economical at 6,996 sq. ft. This plate size – important for the project’s viability – is made visually slim through the inclusion of a strong vertical element along its southwest corner and a stepping back of the remainder of the penthouse level.

River District is the result of an in-depth engagement and planning process that brought together local residents and experts in urban design, architecture, landscaping and environmental sustainability to plan a neighbourhood unlike any other. The end result is a vibrant neighbourhood with exceptionally integrated living space, amenities and outdoor areas.