Telus Garden to be Canada's first commercial LEED Platinum project - if it happens, that is
If you've ever walked around the downtown Vancouver blow that the Telus headquarters occupies, you've probably felt underwhelmed. It's really quite mediocre—a forgettably dull and drab building with little offer the eye (or the environment).
But as a part of Telus' turbocharged investments into B.C. over the next couple of years, the telecom giant plans to begin development for the Telus Gardan, a massive mixed-use building that will transform the Vancouver block from lame to magnificent. That is, if the project gets approval.
The million-square foot, $750 million project will see almost the entire block of prime downtown real estate bounded by Georgia, Robson, Seymour and Richards rebuilt into a technologically and environmentally advanced sites for commerce, employment, and even residential living—half a million square feet of new office space in a 22-storey office tower and 500 residential units in a 44-story tower. The residential component would be built to LEED Gold standard, while the commercial component would be constructed to an incredible LEED Platinum. Telus already has quarters in Ottawa, Toronto, and Quebec that are built to LEED Gold and Silvers.
"Telus Garden will exemplify the Telus brand and be a truly amazing destination for our team members, the community and the city," said Darren Entwistle, Telus president and CEO. "Our vision is that TELUS Garden will be a beautiful and unique location where leading-edge technology, urban living, environmental sustainability and tomorrow's work styles are elegantly integrated into a vibrant community. This development, which will inject millions of dollars into our economy, will highlight Telus' advanced communications technologies and environmental innovation in a way never before seen. Telus Garden will be a breathtaking place to live and work, an architectural icon that will consume 30 per cent less energy thanks to its responsible, leading-edge design. It will be a celebrated urban oasis that is literally alive with plant life and showcases our great province's arts and culture."
Once complete, the new headquarters will feature 10,000 square feet of green roofs providing organic produce for local restaurants, two elevated roof forests, British Columbia artwork, LED lighting on the western façade projecting programmable coloured images on to fritted glass, and media walls where cultural events such as symphony concerts can be broadcast to the public. The development will also open up new residential, retail, and commercial space on the lower end of Robson Street.
"The fact that TELUS is choosing to build a new national headquarters in Vancouver is a great vote of confidence in our local economy," said Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. "Their proposal to build to LEED Platinum is extremely ambitious and sends a signal that in Vancouver, going green is good for business and the environment. I'm very excited that they are investing in Vancouver - we've worked hard to build a competitive climate for business, and when companies like TELUS choose to expand their presence it is great for creating new jobs and economic spin-offs in our city."
Telus has not yet received full approvals to make the whole project a go-ahead, although it does seem likely as the plan is fairly beneficial to the city and downtown core.
Would you like to see the Telus Garden in downtown Vancouver?
