More than year since our last update, and progress at the site of the new MEC Flagship store in downtown Vancouver has advanced by leaps and bounds. What was then a patch of dirt has blossomed into a massive, 60,000 square-foot commercial space spread over three floors at the corner of E 2nd Ave and Quebec St. 

MEC Flagship Store, E 2nd Ave at Quebec St, image by Forum contributor Roundabout

The new flagship store for the Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-op is the first of its kind since its predecessor on West Broadway, which opened back in 1995. The new flagship has been designed by Proscenium Architecture & Interiors on behalf of Beedie Development, the structure on target for LEED Gold certification. 

MEC Flagship Store, side profile, image by Forum contributor City of Rain

Befitting the company's green, outdoorsy image, the MEC Flagship has been designed from a large amount of sustainable materials, including timber and high-efficiency glass, which will help keep the structure's carbon footprint to a minimum. 

MEC Flagship Store, urban context view, image by Forum contributor City of Rain

Well-situated just south of the core, near the nexus of E 2nd Ave and Main St, the MEC Flagship will have little trouble capturing the high volume of foot traffic the company desires. While there remains a significant amount of work yet to be done, the progress to date has given passersby an excellent idea of what to expect as the project enters its final stages. 

SkyriseVancouver 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.