Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver

Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver

Construction broke ground last month for ‘The Exchange’ tower in Vancouver, Canada's first LEED Platinum heritage conversion and Harry Gugger Studio’s first North American building. The 31-floor office building resolves the strict urban regulations imposed on high-rise construction downtown and addresses the historical context by preserving and integrating the façade of the city's historic Stock Exchange building.

Rainer Sherwey of Credit Suisse, one of the joint-owners of the project, commented that “the urban space restrictions and the legal height limits for the ‘view corridors’ were enormous challenges that had to be considered when finding a solution.”

Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver - Windows, Facade
Courtesy of Harry Gugger Studio

Despite these restrictions, which prohibit the Exchange from soaring above the city skyline, the building unassumingly fills the allowable built volume. The mass of the tower is broken up by successive voluminous projections and the persistent verticality and cadence of its mullions.

Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver - Windows, Cityscape, Facade
Courtesy of Harry Gugger Studio

Another challenge for the architect was juxtaposing a contemporary steel and glass tower with the historical brick and concrete stock exchange in a way that would harmoniously resolve these discordant styles.

Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver - Facade, Cityscape
Courtesy of Harry Gugger Studio

Harry Gugger comments about his resolution, saying that the Exchange “does not attempt to dominate or compete with this prominent original building but rather to successfully work together with it in order to create an overall composition that looks at once to Vancouver’s future without obscuring its past.”

Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver - Windows, Cityscape, Facade
Courtesy of Harry Gugger Studio

“Given Mr. Gugger’s experience with heritage restorations and conversions such as the eloquent execution of the Tate Modern in London," adds Frank Gehriger, CEO of SwissReal, the project’s second client, "we knew we found the perfect design partner. The Exchange will be an iconic tower that will forever enhance Vancouver’s skyline."

The project is currently under construction and slated for completion in August 2016.

Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver - Cityscape, Waterfront
Courtesy of Harry Gugger Studio
  • Architects

  • Location

    475 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2B3, Canada
  • Harry Gugger Studio Team

    José Pedro Azevedo, Severin Berchtold, Wtanya Chanvitan, Alasdair Graham, Harry Gugger, Katja Kleinhert, Korbinian Schneider
  • Architect of Record

    Iredale Group Architecture, Vancouver BC
  • Client

    Credit Suisse Real Estate Fund International, Swissreal
  • Area

    37370.0 sqm
  • Project Year

    2016
  • Photographs

  • Location

    475 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2B3, Canada
  • Project Year

    2016
  • Photographs

    Courtesy of Harry Gugger Studio
  • Area

    37370.0 m2

Project gallery

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Project location

Address:475 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2B3, Canada

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: Andrew Gipe. "Harry Gugger Studio's 'The Exchange' to Rise in Vancouver" 17 Feb 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/478111/harry-gugger-studio-s-the-exchange-to-rise-in-vancouver> ISSN 0719-8884

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