At 3532 East Hastings, the story is one of transformation—from a C-2C1 commercial site to a CD-1 mixed-use development that delivers much-needed secured rental housing. The six-storey street frontage (seven at the rear due to grade change) provides one commercial rental space at ground level and 34 purpose-built rental homes in a range of unit types, including a significant proportion of family units. The project aligns with the City of Vancouver’s Rental 100 and Rental Incentive Guidelines, supporting increased height and density to make long-term rental housing viable. Parking and bicycle facilities are accommodated below grade, accessed from the laneway.
Architecturally, the building tells a story of scale, texture, and public presence. A four-storey brick podium establishes a strong, durable street wall, while recessed, lighter metal cladding on the upper levels reduces visual massing and respects the neighbourhood context. Continuous canopies and a widened sidewalk enhance the pedestrian experience, reinforcing East Hastings as an active urban frontage. At the lane, the façade accommodates parkade and service access below, with residential terraces and sun-shading strategies above that create a thoughtful and livable rear elevation.
Internally, the design reinforces the narrative of livability and connection. A landscaped residential breezeway and multi-storey light-well introduce daylight, views, and a sense of openness into the building’s core—an approach that turns a compact site into a place of light and community. Rooftop and upper-level landscaping further soften massing while contributing usable outdoor space. Overall, the project makes efficient use of a challenging site, adds secured rental homes, and builds an architectural identity rooted in material quality, urban activation, and housing accessibility.
