Northeast False Creek
Detailed Urban Design
Vancouver, BC
The Northeast False Creek Detailed Design Project is the most significant city shaping project in Vancouver over the last few decades, promising to forever alter how the City interacts with the last undeveloped section of False Creek. The transformative power of such a project requires close attention to the potential impacts and future benefits to the stakeholders and neighbouring communities. Urban design aspects such as scale, accessibility, integration with existing and future land use, pedestrian and bicycle access are key to the success of this major infrastructure project. Specifically, the Georgia Ramp will transform the area directly adjacent to the stadiums and will influence sensitive private lands while reconnecting the Downtown Eastside neighbourhoods with False Creek and the rest of Downtown.
The site has major physical constraints and multiple definition points that limit the design flexibility of the area. Horizontally, the site is primarily characterized by BC Place and Rogers Arena, two major facilities that require seamless integration in their plans for future developments. Vertically, the site has “match-to” elevations defined by Griffiths Way and Pacific Boulevard (at the lower point) as well as the concourse level at BC Place and the Beatty Street embankment (higher point). The transition between these multiple elevations will be provided by the Georgia Steps, an urban design feature to provide a seamless transition between the ramp and the stadia concourses. This proposed concept provides an opportunity to bring a human scale to the area and provide a pedestrian-oriented amenity that can include urban design features that enhance user experience. These include sustainable landscape and storm-water management treatments, pedestrian lighting, clarity of path and wayfinding, opportunities for public art, and seating areas.
