Coal Harbour Waterfront Plan, Vancouver, British Columbia

Marathon Realty, the real estate division of Canadian Pacific Railways, engaged ROMA to assist in the planning and urban design of its 80-acre railyard on the Burrard Inlet in downtown Vancouver. The railyard function of the site had been decommissioned opening up the opportunity to explore future uses with the community. The plan, which has since been implemented, called for the creation of a new waterfront district comprised of high density residential, retail, office and cultural uses. In addition, a system of open spaces along the waterfront and extending into the downtown was conceived and realized, changing the nature of this part of the waterfront and its relationship to the city. A major feature is the six-acre Harbour Green that provided downtown Vancouver with a major new amenity and gathering space at the water’s edge, linking to Stanly Park and other destinations along the waterfront.