The Shipyards

Location: North Vancouver, BC
Client: Quay Property Management Corp.
Completion: 2019
Size: 9,290 sq m

100,000 sq ft
Collaborators: BKL Consultants Ltd.

Bunt & Associates

Core Group Consultants

Darwin Construction

Evolution Building Science

Geopacific Consultants

HAPA Collaborative

PGL Environmental Consultants

WSP
DIALOG Services: Architecture

Mechanical Engineering

Structural Engineering

The Shipyards is a world-class mixed-use development on the North Vancouver waterfront. It boasts an unparalleled public realm that completes a series of interconnected plazas, transit routes, and recreational spaces. The site is named after the Wallace Shipyards, which date back to the first world war. A reimagined machine shop, known as “Shipyard Commons”, is the centerpiece of the design. This covered outdoor gathering space is a premier local and regional attraction that celebrates the character of the site and its spectacular location.

01/08

Dialog ShipyardsSummer 0057 highresrgb — Completing the waterfront The Shipyards Commons (left), along with a new hotel and restaurant space (right), tie the North Vancouver waterfront together.

12832 — Paying homage to the past The current design for Shipyards Commons came directly from the original Wallace Shipyards machine shop building, which dates back to the early 1900s.

shipyards machine shop — Abandoned, not forgotten The machine shop stood empty for decades. The project team hoped to be able to use the building's steel skeleton, but it had to be torn down because it wasn't structurally sound.

Dialog ShipyardsSummer 0724 highresrgb — Right on the waterfront Shipyards Commons and the new hotel and restaurant space front onto the north side of Vancouver Harbour, next to the Burrard Dry Dock pier

Dialog ShipyardsSummer 1337 highresrgb — A venue for every season Shipyards Commons is a covered open-air space that is perfect for summer festivals. A retractable awning can be extended to provide additional shelter during inclement weather.

shipyards hotel machine shop — Modern meets historical The newly designed hotel and commercial space at The Shipyards elegantly combines the neighbourhood’s modern design elements to the historical character of this waterfront space

Dialog ShipyardsSummer 0276 highresrgb — A space for all seasons The open-air Shipyards Commons space will feature a covered water park in the summer and ice skating rink in the winter. It can also be used for large public gatherings.

Dialog ShipyardsSummer 1562 highresrgb — Looking out to downtown Shipyards Commons faces downtown Vancouver and opens onto the water park and public gathering space. It will attract locals and tourists who take the ferry over from downtown.

Meet The Team

Katherine (Kate) Gerson

Associate, Architect

See more team members

The Shipyards offers a public amenity that is distinctly North Vancouver, and promises to be a regional attraction for a new generation in this historic precinct.

Shane Oleksiuk, Project Architect

shipyards early site plan v2 — It started with a sketch
Connecting the waterfront The Shipyards (originally, Lot 5) rounds out the North Vancouver waterfront and the redevelopment of the versatile waterfront precinct (rezoned by DIALOG). It brings much-needed animation to the site.

It started with a sketch

Connecting the waterfront The Shipyards (originally, Lot 5) rounds out the North Vancouver waterfront and the redevelopment of the versatile waterfront precinct (rezoned by DIALOG). It brings much-needed animation to the site.

The design story 01

Open access to many shared spaces

The Shipyards uses an open concept design that offers easy access to nearby amenities and services.

The design story 02

Incorporating multiple user groups

The new Shipyards includes hotel (gold), commercial (pink), and community amenity (purple) spaces.

The design story 03

Monument to North Vancouver’s past

Development in the Lower Lonsdale area sprouted up around North Vancouver’s historic shipyards.

The design story 04

Framing the redevelopment

The original steel structure didn’t meet code requirements, but did provide design inspiration.

The design story 05

An integral piece of the puzzle

Shipyards Commons, with its long red roof, fits in amongst all of the Lower Lonsdale redevelopments.

The design story 06

Winter fun on the waterfront

Shipyards Commons will play host to a skating rink for much of the winter season. It will be one of two outdoor skating rinks in the Vancouver area, and is considerably larger than the other.