VANCOUVER – Telecommunications giant Telus unveiled plans on Wednesday to move its corporate headquarters to downtown Vancouver as part of a $750-million redevelopment plan that will include state-of-the-art office and residential towers.
Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle said to reflect their concern for a new facility that will be as green as possible, they will name the giant project Telus Garden.
Entwistle made the announcement at a press conference outlining the revitalization of the valuable land Telus owns in the block of prime downtown Vancouver real estate bounded by Georgia , Robson, Seymour and Richards.
The plan includes a 22-storey office tower for the communications company’s headquarters. Designed by Henriquez Partners, it will be the first of its kind in Canada built to the environmental LEED Platinum standard, said Entwistle.
“Our vision is that Telus Garden will be a beautiful and unique location where leading-edge technology, urban living environment sustainability and tomorrow’s work styles are elegantly integrated into a vibrant community,” said Entwistle.
“Once complete, TELUS’s new headquarters will be unique in North America, featuring 10,000 square feet of green roofs providing organic produce for local restaurants, two elevated roof forests, British Columbia artwork, LED lighting on the western façade projecting programmable coloured images on to fritted glass, and media walls where cultural events such as symphony concerts can be broadcast to the public.”
The proposed changes are on the same block already occupied by a Telus building.
Entwistle said the existing Telus offices in Burnaby would continue to operate. “We will be carrying on as is with that building,” Entwistle said of the Burnaby location.
At its peak about 1,000 Telus employees will work at the new national headquarters in downtown Vancouver.
Entwistle said to promote a green work environment, many employees would end up working out of the office and in their homes.
The plan also includes a 44-storey residential tower built to LEED Gold standards on the site. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall and be completed in 2015.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said the commitment by Telus to revitalize the downtown block and move its headquarters to the city shows the economy has changed for the better. “Telus’s decision to expand and choose our city for the national headquarters is great news for the city,” said Robertson. “For Telus to make such a huge investment in Vancouver is a big vote for the economy.”
“The decision by Telus means more jobs.”
And while the entire project needs city hall’s approval, Robertson said the time has come to rebuild the block. “We look forward to working with Telus on this proposal and get it to the next step,” he said.
“Their proposal to build to LEED Platinum is extremely ambitious and sends a signal that in Vancouver, going green is good for business and the environment,” he said.
Developer Ian Gillespie said they have applied for rezoning, the first step in the process. The project will be among the best in the world, he adds.
“I think what the team has come up with in terms of technology is really impressive,” he said. Designing buildings with the environment a priority will be the envy of the world, he said. “Having gold LEEDS certification in the residential building is a wonderful achievement,” he said.
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