Iconic Landmark Project Proposed for Burnaby

An “iconic landmark project” has been put forward by Pinnacle International for a 6.2 acre site in the Lougheed Town Centre area of Burnaby. Based on the preliminary design details, including towers up to 82-storeys in height outlined in the preliminary rezoning application, the towers may become the tallest in B.C..

The site, located at 9858 Gatineau Place has an enviable location directly next to the Skytrain Station and just South of Shape Properties’ 72-acre ‘City of Lougheed‘ / Lougheed Mall site, with its first phase now under construction. A master plan was created for both sites in 2016; however, the Gatineau Place site was subsequently sold to Pinnacle in February 2018 for $220,000,000. The site is currently improved with surface parking lots and a residential sales centre.

Preliminary details for the proposed project include:

  • Three residential towers (82-storeys, 67-storeys & 62-storeys);
  • up to 1.9 Million SF of market residential (11.91 FAR);
  • 20% rental housing (2.16 FAR);
  • estimated 430,000 SF of office, retail & hotel uses;
  • relocation of Gatineau Place to align with the new north-south Grand Promenade road;
  • new covered transit plaza adjacent to the SkyTrain station and bus loop;
  • a new pedestrian bridge over Austin Road to connect the covered transit plaza and subject site with the Lougheed Mall site to the north.

The application describes the design rationale: “The ground level for each tower will be animated with retail uses that will activate the public realm and integrate with the transit plaza. The second level will include retail components in each building together with a hotel lobby in the “East Tower” and an office lobby in the “West Tower”. The tower podiums will share common thematic elements and will be interconnected with sky bridges allowing pedestrian movement between buildings and a connection to the Lougheed Mall Precinct.

The three towers will vary in height, with the largest (East Tower) reaching 82 levels comprised of retail, hotel and residential uses. The West Tower will feature retail, office and residential components within 67 levels, while the “South Tower” will be 62 levels in height and will include retail and residential uses. The design is inspired by nature with the three buildings metaphorically representing an ensemble of flowers expressed through appropriate massing and architectural articulation.”

No renderings have been released publicly yet, and there is no word yet on design architects.