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Following demolition and site clearance back in January, excavation work has now begun for Westbank's 57-storey The Butterfly in downtown Vancouver. An icon in the making, the Revery Architecture-designed tower will soar above the restored stone facade of the historic First Baptist Church, the tower's delicate contours evocative of the project's naturalistic namesake.
The 57-storey, 179-metre, residential high-rise will be home to 331 units split between 136 one-, 159 two-, and 36 three-bedroom suites, in addition to 510 parking spots, and 435 bike stalls. Eschewing traditional corridors, every floor will have an exterior courtyard, and there will be tree planters on every third floor. Amenities will include a fitness centre, lounge, rooftop terraces, and a 50-metre, Olympic-length pool - the latter to be housed within a visually stunning architectural space covered over in a clear glass canopy.
In addition to the tower, there will also be an 8-storey rental building, which will contain 61 apartments, ranging from studio to three-bedroom units. Amenities for the rental block will include an indoor lounge with kitchen, and a landscaped rooftop terrace with children's playground.
One of the most dramatic aspects of the project, aside from the tower, will be the $91 million community fund, much of which will go towards the restoration and conversion effort for the aforementioned First Baptist Church. Set to become home to a mix of community uses, the restored church will be continue to be a fixture for years to come.
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.
