When TELUS and Aryze Developments unveiled details and architectural renderings, in Summer 2020, of the proposed聽聽building, the scope and ambition of the project stimulated an extraordinary degree of enthusiasm among the community.
Here, at the nexus of Douglas and Humboldt streets, was a bold imagining of what Victoria鈥檚 economic and creative futures could look like.
Complementing the existing TELUS Garden and TELUS Sky buildings in 91原创 and Calgary, respectively, TELUS Ocean is to be an 11-storey, environmentally-responsible structure that, once completed, will benefit Victoria and all of British Columbia in various ways.听
TELUS Ocean鈥檚 offices will accommodate more than 800 well-paid jobs, generate an estimated $1.5 million in tax revenue for the city each year, and serve as a focal point and an incubator for Victoria鈥檚 technological innovations 鈥� now the city鈥檚 (and the province鈥檚) largest economic driver.听
鈥淭he technology sector is now greater to our economy in B.C. than forestry, oil and gas, and mining combined,鈥� points out Luke Mari, Principal and Development Lead of Aryze. 鈥淎nd even in Victoria, the largest economy is the tech sector.鈥�
Plus, by virtue of its striking design and generous public realm, TELUS Ocean will bring unprecedented visual energy and countless opportunities for togetherness to a historic neighbourhood that is poised to symbolize the Victoria of tomorrow.
Understandably, however, proposals of dramatic change often cause concern among citizens, who fear that negative impacts on the community鈥檚 quality of life may result.
From the beginning, TELUS and Aryze have been committed to ensuring that TELUS Ocean will only be a positive force in the community 鈥� economically, functionally and environmentally. For this reason, the two companies hosted Virtual Community Information Sessions in February of this year to allow anyone the opportunity to learn more about the project, voice concerns and make suggestions for improvement.
TELUS and Aryze listened carefully to feedback, and the result is a number of modifications and enhancements that bring TELUS Ocean in greater alignment with the community鈥檚 desires. These include, but are not limited to:
鈥� rotating the building out of Douglas Street鈥檚 view corridor by six metres, allowing for clearer views of the Olympic Mountains
鈥� shifting the building as far north toward Humboldt Street as possible to further distance it from the neighbouring Aria condominium building. (Zoning bylaws require a setback of zero metres; it is now 17.5 metres)
鈥� the vast majority of the building鈥檚 height has been relocated toward the north end of the site, which is surrounded by road
鈥� the building鈥檚 floor area has been reduced from a 5.6 FSR (Floor Space Ratio) to 5.2 FSR
鈥� the building鈥檚 site coverage has been reduced from 69% to 63%
Additionally, Mari is especially excited about a substantial expansion of TELUS Ocean鈥檚 public realm. 鈥淲e鈥檇 been advocating to close Humboldt Street, and the City has agreed to it in principal, which we think is a huge win,鈥� he says. 鈥淥ur public-realm design is one of the greatest positive impacts of this building 鈥� we鈥檙e completely redesigning and improving all of the City property around [TELUS Ocean]. It can now be turned into a public plaza.鈥澛犅�
But this is by no means the last of TELUS鈥檚 and Aryze鈥檚 dialogues with the community about TELUS Ocean. Two more virtual Community Information Sessions will take place on Thursday, August 26 (5:00-6:30 pm), and Wednesday, September 1 (7:00-8:30 pm) where the project team will share a summary of key feedback themes heard to date, along with details of resulting key project changes. To register for the event and see how community feedback has influenced the improved building design, visit聽.听
鈥淸Ocean] represents a tremendous investment by TELUS in the city of Victoria 鈥� it鈥檚 their last regional head office across Canada,鈥� says Mari. 鈥淚t鈥檚 designed to grow our fastest-growing industry, which is also our largest industry, and it really speaks to Victoria advancing its living-wage job creation.
As our stakeholder outreach process comes to a close, I look forward to meeting with the community and thanking them for their invaluable feedback which has directly influenced the improved building design we have today."
To learn more about TELUS Ocean and to register for upcoming Virtual Community Information Sessions, visit聽.
