Bocci, a local lighting design and manufacturing company, has submitted a development application for construction of a new headquarters building located on East Georgia Street, across from Woodland Park in East Vancouver.

The proposal envisions a 7-storey concrete headquarters including manufacturing and office space, as well as a ground floor restaurant space. The site is 17,150 SF in size.

The project includes:

• 35,000 SF of manufacturing space;
• 13,500 SF of office space;
• 3,300 SF of restaurant space;
• amenity space including exhibition space;
• A building height of 100 ft.;
• A total density of 2.99 FSR;
• Parking and loading having vehicular access from the lane.

The application describes the design: “The floors above street level would include an interconnected glass atelier, studio, office, warehouse, production facility, prototyping area, and archive. The perimeter of the building features a series of balconies that provide our employees with access to natural ventilation, light, and green areas. These green areas cascade up to a forested roofscape, extending the visual greenspace of Woodland Park.

This development will make use of a newly-refined technique wherein concrete is poured over a fabric formwork. This formwork would describe the building’s vaulted internal spaces and transition through to the exterior balconies, revealing complex forms visible from the building facade.“

Under the site’s existing I-2 zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted. However, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.

The architect for the project is Mallen Gowing Berzins Architecture (MGBA) Inc.