MetroPlace is a 342 unit, 46-storey development in Burnaby’s Metrotown neighbourhood. The residential tower component sits on top of a 4-storey commercial podium on Beresford, a 5-storey stacked townhouse podium component on Telford, and a series of 2-storey townhouses along the site’s southern property line. The project incorporates up to sixteen thousand square feet of city-owned community amenity space, granted in exchange for an additional amenity density bonus.
MetroPlace is the first high density development to take advantage of the new “supplemental community benefit density bonuses” for Burnaby’s town centres. The project aims to integrate the adjacent Maywood neighbourhood into the town centre. It includes pedestrian and cyclist-friendly linkages to provide easier access to Metrotown mall, the library branch and civic square, Bonsor Recreation Centre, and Central Park from the area south of Metrotown station.
The project will also have reduced parking requirements. The developer has agreed to reduce the market value of forty-one units which have a parking stall as an option. The new block is designed to become the focus for public events that will take place on Beresford Street. Streets are widened, trees planted, adding cafes, stores and an artwalk making it more pedestrian-friendly.
“This is a shared vision, but more than anything, it was Burnaby’s vision for Beresford Street and for our site.” said Maurice Pez, Intracorp’s senior vice-president of development, in a press release. “It’s going to make an exciting addition to Burnaby’s Metrotown Centre plan.” Construction started September 2011, and completed in August 2014.
Preliminary Design: Busby Perkins+Will
NSDA Architects: All Other Architectural Services