Tall & Urban News

Henson Developments has proposed a massive 60-story Passive House tower in Vancouver, which could become one of the largest in the world if completed. Passive House is known as an international standard for energy-efficient architecture which focuses on airtight structures, high-quality windows, insulation, and ventilation.

The environmentally-focused building is planned for Vancouver’s West End from 1059 to 1075 Nelson St., just off Thurlow St. The building would stand among the highest in Vancouver’s skyline.

In order to make this building a possibility, Henson Developments has announced a plan to earn Passive House Certification. The City of Vancouver is currently reviewing its application. Soon, a report will go before city council, which will then lead to a public hearing about the proposed project.

Sean Pander, the green building manager for the City of Vancouver stated that it would be a “very big deal” if the project was approved, explaining that the project could drive innovation for low-carbon, eco-friendly developments like these. He also noted that if approved, the project could help reduce costs for similar projects in the future.

In 2016, the City of Vancouver released a zero-emission building plan. The plan outlined the city’s action strategies to ensure the majority of all new buildings use 100 percent renewable energy and release no operational greenhouse gas emission by 2025. The plan intends to make this the case for all new buildings by 2030. If this new 60-story building is approved, a massive step will be made towards achieving these goals.

Final plans for the development have not yet been decided upon.

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