Look Up, Waaay Up!

A feat of engineering, the 38-by-9foot pool on the 20th level connects the two 30-storey residential towers at the ARC Vancouver by Concord Pacific at the corner of Nelson Street and Expo Boulevard. There’s nothing like this amenity for homeowners anywhere else in the country, the nearly completed project being the most bold and exciting gateway to downtown Vancouver from the Cambie Street Bridge.

The span that carries the pool and all of the homes above it supports the weight of approximately 1,650 cars. With a six-inch thick acrylic glass bottom, the pool is also the most expensive price per square foot condo amenity ever built in Canada. Only three companies in the world make this type of pool bottom, with just one located in North America, Colorado’s Reynolds Polymer Technology Inc.

“The precarious and challenging pool installation only made our job more interesting as we had to store the solid acrylic panel among the construction while the building was being completed, and lower the panel into place once construction was finished,” says Mark Johnson with Reynolds Polymer. “The ARC’s extraordinary design continues throughout the entire building, and manufacturing a piece of acrylic that realizes its beauty is always an honour for our engineers.”

Beyond the pool is the Sky Lounge, a stunning space for homeowners to relax and entertain. With floor-to-ceiling windows, it opens up to a 270-degree outdoor patio deck offering spectacular skyline and water views. The Sky Gym and Sky Spa are also on this level.

The ARC’s unparalleled sky-high amenity is more than an architectural marvel, however. It’s also the nexus point of community.

Peter Webb, Concord Pacific senior vice president of development, explains that the ARC heralds a new era for architecture and livability. “It’s not just architecture for architecture’s sake or aesthetic,” Webb says. “We believe architecture is capable of enhancing livability. As we were searching with Walter Frankl for something provocative and innovative, it became clear that it made sense to connect the two buildings at the top so people from each can meet each other there. “Community is created through connection,” he adds. “A patio and terraced with a view over thecity and a pool you can see through to the public plaza below are going to draw people together. And the pool is an aesthetic playground: it really brings out the child in everyone.” Gracing the ceiling above the glass-bottom pool is an Ode to Canada maple-leaf mosaic backlit in shades of red, orange, and gold. At night, it can be seen from blocks away, with a lanternlike glow.

Natural elements like wind and shoreline inspired the ARC’s striking wavy exterior. “The ARC responds to its unique site and vibrant urban context by its organic shape and undulating façade,” says Walter Francl, principal at Francl Architecture. “The perspectives vary as you approach the site, making the ARC a very animated and unique development in this dynamic part of downtown Vancouver.”

Situated across from One Pacific, Concord Pacific’s sister property—which also features an organic, curved façade and a cantilevered glass swimming pool— the ARC is a beacon to people entering Vancouver’s core from Cambie Street Bridge, the two structures a pair of welcoming hands.

The ARC features a touchless auto car wash and EV parking. There are 560 one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes in the ARC, with a limited number of suites remaining. For more information, call our sales centre at 604-899-8800 and speak with our sales executives or visit www.arcvancouver.com.