800 Granville
Once the neon-lit heart of Vancouver’s nightlife, Granville Street has faded over the decades, but there is renewed effort in reviving its status as “the place to be”. This development breathes new life into the area by anchoring the block in heritage, entertainment, and community. At its core is the restoration of legendary entertainment venues and conservation of five historical resources on the block. But it’s also a bold urban strategy that will introduce over 600,000 square feet of flexible commercial and hotel space, food and beverage venues, and more than 550 rental homes in two towers.
The project balances economic feasibility with public benefit, using strategic density to fund the conservation of key civic assets. It imagines Granville not as an entertainment relic, but a living stage—where locals and visitors, artists and residents, intersect. This is architecture as cultural infrastructure, recharging a historic street with energy, purpose, and vibrancy.
This development offers a full spectrum of experiences. The architecture is carefully composed to echo the energy of Granville Street while layering in new uses. Retail, hotel, restaurants, terraces, performance venues, and homes all coexist in a fluid vertical journey that mirrors that of the city. Street-level buzz flows upward through social spaces and shared amenities, culminating in the 43-storey and 39-storey residential rental towers above. Every element is designed to connect—day and night, locals and visitors, old and new, culture and commerce. The program is more than just mixed-use: it’s a vibrant destination that extends Granville’s legacy.
Granville Street is a “performer”, with its lights, people, and music. At its heart sits the Commodore Complex, an icon of Vancouver’s entertainment scene. The project preserves this treasure by bridging over it with a connector hosting a central bike hub and communal terrace. This allows for urgent operational upgrades while new support spaces enhance the function of both the Commodore Ballroom and the nearby Orpheum Theatre. The streetscape is reinvigorated with inviting retail, while respecting the underlying 25-foot “tempo” of the block. This is a re-investment in the cultural soul of the city—celebrating where we’ve been, while making new space for what’s next.
This hotel isn’t just near the action—it’s part of the action. Tucked above the heritage façades, guests are lead straight into the development’s cultural heartbeat. Eliminating a front desk for tech-enabled check-ins keeps the experience fluid, freeing up valuable space. Instead of typical amenities, the 100-room hotel borrows from the block itself—concerts, nightlife, and shared terraces become the guest experience. The design targets midscale brands while delivering an unmatched sense of place. For visitors who crave immersion, this is where you get a backstage pass to Vancouver’s most iconic street.
