Sea Sponge-Inspired Skyscraper Proposed for Vancouver

Henriquez Partners Architects has proposed a 1,033-foot skyscraper at 595 West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver, inspired by the Venus' flower basket sea sponge. The building, part of the Georgia & Abbott development by the Holborn Group, would become Vancouver's tallest. Its diagrid exoskeleton, developed with Arup, mimics the sponge's skeletal lattice for structural efficiency in an earthquake-prone area. The tower will house a hotel and a publicly accessible observation deck designed by PFS Studio, described as a 'forest in the sky.' A 17,000-square-foot public plaza will connect to three sister buildings, featuring retail, a cultural center, and Indigenous art. The neighboring 501 West Georgia Street includes residential space, social housing, an art gallery, and daycare. The development will create over 1,900 homes, a 920-room hotel, and 70,130 square feet of conference space. The project has been submitted to the city of Vancouver.