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The Ironworks ULI Global Awards for Excellence video clip is available here.
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Developer: Conwest Developments
Designer: Taylor Kurtz Architecture + Design
Site Size: 2.3 Acres
Ironworks is Canada’s first stacked mixed-use commercial industrial project. The overall form consists of two primary buildings, running parallel to Pandora street to the north and Franklin street to the south. The buildings consist of 140,000 SF of light-industrial space, 70,000 SF of office space, and 100,000 SF of secure underground parking. The southern (Franklin) building consists of two stacked double-height storeys of flexible light-industrial space. The northern (Pandora) building consists of one double-height storey of flexible light-industrial space below two storeys of office/flex. Ironworks also includes a large potential 3,983 SF restaurant unit on the main level including a 1,200 SF patio.
The Terminal City Iron Works property is a full city block with rich industrial history and community roots formed by the contributions and accomplishments of the employees that stood upon the site since its inception. TC Iron Works Ltd. was built in 1906, a new-age industrial manufacturer founded by James Mason, Harry J. Littler, and Thomas W. Littler. TC Iron Works produced fire hydrants, gas valves, and fittings that were instrumental in opening new communities throughout BC. The foundry also contributed to the Canadian war effort in World Wars I and II through their production of innovative war products such as explosive shells. Towards the end of the 20th Century, the foundry closed and was reinvented as a film studio, a nascent industry in Vancouver then. It quickly became one of the most productive studios in the province. In 2014, Conwest Developments purchased the site, moving forward with the redevelopment and revitalization.
Ironworks changed the game of the industrial and office landscape in Vancouver by creating and building North America’s first stacked mixed-use commercial industrial project. The building included innovative features and designs which allowed the building to be ready for the change in office use due to and during the pandemic. Features included operable windows and outdoor amenity areas. Unlike traditional office buildings, entrances of individual businesses are accessed from the exterior walkway, and with the large freight elevators, this allowed companies to slowly transition employees back to the office smoothly and safely, where social distancing was possible. Other notable features include more EV charging stations than required, generous secure bicycle storage, and end-of-trip facilities, along with a rooftop patio for all tenants, these were features that were planned to anticipate the future needs of businesses. Ironworks is now the home to over 30 high-tech, service-oriented, and professional businesses, providing approximately 500 permanent jobs.
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