2150 Keith Drive

Location: Vancouver, BC
Client: BentallGreenOak
Completion: 2022
Size: 15,561 sq m

167,492 sq ft
Sustainability: Targeting LEED® Gold certification
Collaborators: AME Consulting Group

AES Engineering

Bentall Green Oak

EXP

Fast + Epp

GHL Consultants

Ventana Construction
DIALOG Services: Architecture

Interior Design

Landscape Architecture

2150 Keith Drive is an innovative 10-storey mass timber building targeting high-performance environmental standards and will regenerate an emerging industrial neighbourhood. A cellular exoskeleton gives the building its striking appearance and provides a direct expression of its unique braced frame structural system. It will be the tallest braced frame mass timber project in North America. Nature’s Path, an industry leader in organic food development and sustainable food production, will be the lead tenant. The building will serve as an extension of the company’s values and practices. Features include office space, flexible meeting areas, wellness and social spaces, and a rooftop deck.

01/10

keith drive main rendering — A distinctive exoskeleton 2150 Keith Drive’s honeycomb-shaped exoskeleton has a unique aesthetic. It also moves the building’s structural system to the outside, freeing up space inside.

Keith Drive aerial v2 — Shaping the neighbourhood The building sits on a major crossroads and the entrance to the False Creek Flats. It will welcome people to this newly revitalized neighbourhood.

keith drive office space — Open space, lots of light Occupants will enjoy the building's large windows, as well as balconies with gardens, and plenty of exposed mass timber. The result is a light, warm, inviting space on each floor.

keith drive office space view v2 — Making more room inside Exterior bracing eliminates the need for a more traditional structural system. It also means larger floor plates, taller floor-to-floor heights, and greater column spacing.

keith drive lobby v3 — Entering a refined space Keith Drive's open, airy main lobby provides a glimpse of what employees and visitors will find in the office spaces. Natural materials are used throughout the building.

keith drive rendering east van cross — A spectacular backdrop Building occupants will have amazing views to the west, south, and east. The team made sure to respect the symbolic importance of the East Van Cross when laying out the site.

keith drive model east van cross — Integrating into the site Setbacks, right-of-ways, and a 12 metre elevation gain determine the shape and location of the building on site. The landscaping ties in to a major east-west ecological corridor.

keith drive wood model — Mass timber innovation The building will feature a nine-storey mass timber structure. Glulam beams, columns, and braces, with cross-laminated timber walls and floor panels, are all used in the design.

Meet The Team

See more team members

Mass timber is comparable to conventional steel and concrete construction in terms of function, layout and constructability, but is more sustainable and creates a beautiful workplace.

Martin Nielsen, DIALOG Principal-in-Charge

keith dwg5 2 — It started with a sketch
Unique, visionary, different This space and this client called for a different type of building. Something that was unique, visionary. The ideas flowed and the honeycomb structure was born out of that process.

It started with a sketch

Unique, visionary, different This space and this client called for a different type of building. Something that was unique, visionary. The ideas flowed and the honeycomb structure was born out of that process.

The design story 01

A simple structure

The very first concept for Keith Drive started with vertical columns and shaded glazing treatments.

The design story 02

Vertical bracing

Vertical structural bracing was added to the concept.

The design story 03

The honeycomb is born

The next step from vertical bracing was to connect the dots, and create the honeycomb shapes that characterize the building.

The design story 04

Four key areas

There were four key areas in the bracing system, which carry the building load and resist seismic forces.

The design story 05

Envisioning the project on the site

This early drawing of the building shows its relationship to the East Van Cross and SkyTrain line

The design story 06

Constraints shape the building

Several constraints on site informed the shape of the building. These included a narrow site; major encumbrances: a statutory right of way (SRW) of +/- 4 metres to the north for the LRT station (yellow), a +/- 3 metre setback to the south for a greenway / bike route (green), and a 9.1 metre sewer SRW running diagonally through the site (red); 12 metres in elevation gain from west to east; proximity to significant public art (East Van Cross); and a single vehicle access point (Keith Drive - purple)

The design story 07

It all started with a basic form

The building’s shape was influenced by the setbacks and right-of-ways on all four sides.

The design story 08

The design evolved over time

Keith Drive was originally designed to be eight storeys, but grew to 10 at the City’s request.

The design story 09

Oasis of green in the city

The project boasts a green roof, balcony gardens, and landscaping tied into an ecological corridor.

The design story 10

Using natural resources

Rainwater will be collected from the roof and carried down to the ground through a system of pipes on the south facade of the building. It will be stored in an underground cistern and then used for landscape irrigation and building services.

The design story 11

Maximum daylight for occupants

Keith Drive’s form is relatively long and narrow. The long face is oriented to the south, allowing the daylighting strategy to take advantage of that exposure. The balconies will act as fixed shading devices that reduce the amount of heat gain.