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Empire Landmark Hotel to be demolished, two condo towers planned

One of Vancouver’s most recognizable towers will soon be coming down.

The owners of the Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street, the tallest free-standing hotel in Vancouver, is floating a plan to demolish the 42 storey tower and replace it with two new condo towers.

The building, an icon in the West End, was completed in 1973 and originally opened as the Sheraton Landmark hotel. The building is well-known for its revolving restaurant on the top floor, Cloud 9.

It is currently owned by Hong Kong based Asia Standard International Group. The company also recently bought two buildings along Alberni Street, directly in front of the Empire Landmark, for $160 million in a partnership with developer Landa Global Properties.

The west tower in the development will be rotated 15 degrees to maximize views. Interestingly, the rendering also shows a proposed future tower at the corner of Robson and Nicola streets. No application has been filed with the city yet for that tower.
The west tower in the development will be rotated 15 degrees to maximize views. Interestingly, the rendering also shows a proposed future tower at the corner of Robson and Nicola streets. No application has been filed with the city yet for that tower.

 

According to the Development Permit Board website, the proposal calls for two towers, 28 and 30 storeys, with a total of 280 residential units.

223 of the units will be market condos, and 57 of the units will designated as social housing in the podium. The West End Community Plan provides bonus density to developers who include social housing units in new projects.

There will be retail on the ground floor, and office space on the second floor, over four levels of underground parking accessed from the lane.

The architect is Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership, who worked on the Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver, the MNP Tower, and Bentall 5, among others.

It will be interesting to see how the building is taken down – whether it will be dismantled or is demolished in a controlled implosion.

Here are some renderings of the proposal, from the City of Vancouver’s website:

The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
Empire Landmark condos
Facade detailing includes continuous curved slab edges, floor to ceiling glazing and bronze colour decorative fins.
Empire Landmark condos
Facade detailing includes continuous curved slab edges, floor to ceiling glazing and bronze colour decorative fins.
Empire Landmark condos
Laneway of the podium showing social housing units.
Empire Landmark condos
Robson Street elevation showing retail units.
Empire Landmark condos
Robson Street elevation showing retail units.
The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
The Empire Landmark Hotel on Robson Street in Vancouver’s West End will be demolished and replaced by two new condo towers, with office space and social housing in the podium. Credit: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership

Last updated: September 23, 2016

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Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner is an experienced journalist and media relations professional, based in Vancouver. As founder of urbanYVR.com, he has been reporting on urban development across the Lower Mainland since 2016, and has also served as vice-chair of the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee. In October 2022, he was elected to Vancouver city council and is no longer actively reporting for urbanYVR.

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