Image credit: Ema Peter, courtesy of Revery Architecture
Revery Architecture has completed the Butterfly + First Baptist Church Complex, a 605,000-square-foot mixed-use development in downtown Vancouver. Commissioned by Westbank Corp in partnership with the First Baptist Church of Vancouver, the scheme combines a 57-story residential tower, a mid-rise rental building with affordable housing, and the restoration and expansion of the First Baptist Church, a Gothic Revival landmark originally completed in 1911 and rebuilt following a 1931 fire. Archinect first reported on the scheme last year.
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
The tower’s form uses a split floorplate intended to draw daylight and air through the building via open-air breezeways on each level, with larger “sky gardens” occurring every third floor. The design includes a fifth-level, 50-metre lap pool enclosed by a glazed canopy supported by 36 prefabricated ribs. The tower envelope is described as an assembly of curved glazing and prefabricated glass fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels, organized in an A–B pattern above level 14.
Image credit: Ema Peter, courtesy of Revery Architecture
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
A new galleria, planned as a transparent double-height atrium, is designed to connect the tower podium to the church and serve as an access point to shared amenities and community programs. Facilities include a 7,800-square-foot childcare facility with 37 spaces and a new gymnasium designed to accommodate up to 284 people, alongside multi-purpose rooms and a counselling center.
Image credit: Ema Peter, courtesy of Revery Architecture
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
The church sanctuary, identified as a municipally designated heritage space, has received seismic, accessibility, and building services upgrades, along with restoration of interior elements, including pews, ceilings, and stained glass. The project also includes a reworked public courtyard with seating, planting, and a water feature.
Image credit: Ema Peter, courtesy of Revery Architecture
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
The mid-rise rental component provides 61 affordable units, with two-thirds priced at CMHC Housing Income Limit rates and the remainder offered below market, according to the team. The development targets LEED Gold and cites operational performance goals, including reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions relative to a baseline, as well as on-site mobility provisions such as 465 secured bicycle stalls and car-share options.
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
“The Butterfly reinvents what a vertical lifestyle looks like and how it can enhance the urban experience for residents and the community,” said Venelin Kokalov, Design Principal at Revery Architecture. “Inspired by the ephemeral nature of clouds, the tower’s distinctive form establishes a bold new landmark in Vancouver. The project blends private residences with publicly accessible courtyards and heritage space, fusing old and new, and brings people together. I’m proud of our team’s relentless effort and dedication in realizing this architectural feat.”
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
Image credit: Hufton + Crow, courtesy of Revery Architecture
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