KPF to introduce hybrid mass-timber structure rising 260 feet in vancouver

the green intervention in vancouver

in downtown vancouver, kohn pedersen fox (KPF) and executive architect adamson associates architects will realize one of the tallest exposed hybrid mass timber office buildings in north america. dubbed ‘burrard exchange,’ the project will reach a height of 260 feet and will help to preserve the legacy of the ‘bentall centre’ as the city’s premier office complex. the new project will include 16 stories of light-filled, loft-like workspaces and retail. upon its completion, burrard exchange’s building operations will be 100% carbon neutral.

the project is expected to create more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, with construction beginning as soon as early 2023.

images courtesy of hudson pacific properties/KPF

a timber celebration of sustainability

for the innovative design in vancouver, the architects at KPF make use of mass timber, typically reserved for low-rise structures. the result is a state-of-the-art green office tower, reducing the building’s embodied carbon. the mass timber is also a key design feature, seeking to be unencapsulated and exposed, highlighting and celebrating the project’s sustainable aspirations. the design prioritizes both indoor and outdoor spaces to enhance connections to nature from within the building and meet growing demand for high-function outdoor areas and access to fresh air. replacing one of the site’s existing parkades, the development will include amenities and retail space to service the entire campus and the public.

the burrard exchange is unveiled by hudson pacific properties, operator and joint owner of bentall centre in partnership with blackstone real estate.

carbon neutrality

the team at KPF notes the relatively low manufacturing carbon footprint of wood compared to other materials, and that it is the only material that can remove carbon from the atmosphere over its lifetime. the project represents hudson pacific’s first mass timber development and will build on the momentum of other recently announced mass timber projects in british columbia. throughout the entitlement process, hudson pacific will work collaboratively with the city of vancouver to gain support and approval for this innovative use of exposed mass timber.