Five months since last checking in at the site of Boffo DevelopmentsThe Smithe, and what was then an excavation site has transformed into a full blown build site, the 27-storey tower's rise having officially begun. Located, appropriately, at the corner of Smithe and Cambie Streets, in the heart of Yaletown, the tower will soon deliver 94 units and up to 200 new residents to the area. 

The Smithe, tower on the rise, image by Forum contributor City of Rain

Viewed above and below, the excavation and build site have recently become a hive of activity, as cement pours and rebar installation work has been progressing smoothly over the last few months. Below, a super official looking hand-painted sing warns workers to not rush the stairs on their way in and out of the site. 

Don't Rush the Stairs, image by Forum contributor City of Rain

Viewed in the rendering below, The Smithe will sit atop a multi-storey podium base, thanks in part to the addition of several large columns, which will effectively carve out the tower's 4,000 square-foot amenity space. 

The Smithe, as it will appear upon completion, image via Boffo Development

Set for completion by 2020, The Smithe as designed by GBL Architects will incorporate six refinished timber beams from the old warehouse structure that once occupied the site, these to be repurposed as decorative touches within the tower. Once complete, The Smithe will be a welcome addition to the downtown core, the tower to continue Vancouver's vertical legacy. 

SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.