The Shipyards is a world-class mixed-use development on the North Vancouver waterfront. It boasts an unparalleled public realm that completes a series of interconnected plazas, transit routes, and recreational spaces. The site is named after the Wallace Shipyards, which date back to the first world war. A reimagined machine shop, known as “Shipyard Commons”, is the centerpiece of the design. This covered outdoor gathering space is a premier local and regional attraction that celebrates the character of the site and its spectacular location.
- Location
- North Vancouver, BC
- Size
- 100,000 sq ft
- Client
- Quay Property Management Corp.
- Completion
- 2019
- DIALOG Services
- Collaborators
Bunt & Associates
Core Group Consultants
Darwin Construction
Evolution Building Science
Geopacific Consultants
HAPA Collaborative
PGL Environmental Consultants
WSP
BKL Consultants Ltd.
Architecture
Mechanical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Sustainability + Building Performance Consulting
The Shipyards Commons (left), along with a new hotel and restaurant space (right), tie the North Vancouver waterfront together.
Shipyards Commons faces downtown Vancouver and opens onto the water park and public gathering space. It will attract locals and tourists who take the ferry over from downtown.
Shipyards Commons is a covered open-air space that is perfect for summer festivals. A retractable awning can be extended to provide additional shelter during inclement weather.
The newly designed hotel and commercial space at The Shipyards elegantly combines the neighbourhood’s modern design elements to the historical character of this waterfront space
Shipyards Commons and the new hotel and restaurant space front onto the north side of Vancouver Harbour, next to the Burrard Dry Dock pier
The current design for Shipyards Commons came directly from the original Wallace Shipyards machine shop building, which dates back to the early 1900s.
The machine shop stood empty for decades. The project team hoped to be able to use the building’s steel skeleton, but it had to be torn down because it wasn’t structurally sound.
The Team
Shane Oleksiuk, Project ArchitectThe Shipyards offers a public amenity that is distinctly North Vancouver, and promises to be a regional attraction for a new generation in this historic precinct.
The Shipyards (originally, Lot 5) rounds out the North Vancouver waterfront and the redevelopment of the versatile waterfront precinct (rezoned by DIALOG). It brings much-needed animation to the site.
The Shipyards uses an open concept design that offers easy access to nearby amenities and services.
The new Shipyards includes hotel (gold), commercial (pink), and community amenity (purple) spaces.
Development in the Lower Lonsdale area sprouted up around North Vancouver’s historic shipyards.
The original steel structure didn’t meet code requirements, but did provide design inspiration.
Shipyards Commons, with its long red roof, fits in amongst all of the Lower Lonsdale redevelopments.
Shipyards Commons will play host to a skating rink for much of the winter season. It will be one of two outdoor skating rinks in the Vancouver area, and is considerably larger than the other.
Community groups will be able to use Shipyards Commons for a whole host of activities and events.
Shipyards tenants include a hotel, restaurants, retail stores, and a university satellite campus.
The site is right beside one of the original yellow gantry cranes from the Wallace Shipyards.
The kids’ water park, along with adult-friendly amenities, makes this an ideal family destination.
