993 
We all know that buildings don't always turn out like the renderings. Last-minute changes and real-life materials can all cause discrepancies between the vision and reality of a project. In our Flash Forward Friday feature, we take a look at how different projects stack up.
Completed in 2015, Townline's 999 Seymour is one of many recently completed projects that fell under our development radar. Like many residential highrises in Vancouver, the 22-storey tower sports full-length balconies, but unlike its condominium counterparts, the Acton Ostry Architects-designed building boasts an intuitive and practical exterior utensil that fundamentally alters the tower's appearance.
A gallery of marketing illustrations revealed the project's innovative facade features — vertical strips of green and blue translucent glass intersect with moveable and perforated anodized aluminum solar screens that constantly shift across the run of the tower. When paired with deep balconies and a sliding glass wall system, the living spaces are easily connected to the outdoors while providing passive solar control for the 134 homes within.
Engineered hardwood floors, stone kitchen countertops and backsplashes, and exposed concrete accent walls define the minimalist vernacular of the interiors. In addition to commercial space on the ground, a two-storey living green wall serves as a greeting to residents.
The finished product closely aligned with the renderings that were released. At night, the vibrant coloured strips are illuminated, injecting the building with an additional pizzazz that other highrise condominiums typically lack. And the interactive screens ensure a rhythmic motion to the volume that ensures the elevation is always visually divergent.
We will return in the near future with another comparison!
