The Crystal was a ground-breaking project in the Greater Vancouver region, symbolizing Transit Oriented Development at a scale never before seen prior to its 1999 completion. Comprising 750,000 square feet in five linked strata developments and covering an entire city block, the complex includes retail, office, restaurant, hotel, conference center and residential uses. It was the first development in Metrotown to have a pedestrian-oriented urban streetscape as its core concept and was recognized by the City of Burnaby as a model for a new direction in the maturing development of the area. The dynamic architecture of The Crystal creates uniquely memorable indoor and outdoor places in a high street alternative to the adjacent big box retail and chain-oriented shopping malls.

VIA's work included design of all components, including high-rise and low-rise housing, offices, two levels of retail and restaurant units, and four levels of underground parking. In addition, our work included the design of the four-star Hilton Vancouver Metrotown on the southeast corner of the site, and the RCMP Community Policing station on the southwest corner.

Completed on a fast-track schedule, the project was assembled, rezoned, financed, designed and built in three years. The project was finished on time and on budget despite the 1997 downturn that severely impacted the project's Asian investment and customer focus.