The City of Vancouver is inviting architects, urban planners, designers, developers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, start-ups, neighbourhood collectives, innovators and artists to come forward with creative proposals to transform 1.5 acres of centrally located City-owned property in the False Creek Flats through the C40 Reinventing Cities Competition. Joined by 18 other cities around the world, Vancouver is seeking new models and innovations that can demonstrate new ways for cities to shape the future by fostering environmentally sustainable, resilient, equitable and livable urban developments.
The winning proposal will not only advance the ambitious zero carbon mandate of C40, but also move forward in a creative way many of the aspirations of the recently approved False Creek Flats Plan. The competition site is within the larger 9-acre (3.7 ha) Innovation Hub, on the western edge of the False Creek Flats and is anticipated to anchor public life in the future, showcasing and fostering new innovations in a variety of economic sectors. The site is strategically located near public transit, the seawall, and the downtown peninsula and sits directly between the two emerging institutional anchors at the future St. Paul’s Health Campus and the creative campus unfolding at Great Northern Way centred around the newly constructed Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Recently approved zoning for the site will support a diverse program including roughly 60,000 square feet of market residential and 200,000 square feet of employment space. In addition to these spaces, integral components of public benefit will be delivered including 50,000 square feet of non-profit art production space which will anchor a new creative entrepreneur centre, a central plaza, and non-market housing for artists working in the area.
Details on the site, including the requirements and form for submission, is available on the competition website.
The deadline for Expressions of Interest closes on May 31, 2018.