Construction has nearly reached ground level on The Exchange, a 31-storey office tower developed by SwissReal Management Inc. and Credit Suisse in Vancouver. The $240-million CAD development at Howe and West Pender Streets will become the second tallest office building in Canada with LEED Platinum status. 

The Exchange in Vancouver, image courtesy of Credit Suisse

National Bank will occupy 45,000 square feet of office space in the building, which takes the form of a glassy tower rising from the Old Stock Exchange. The heritage facade of the 1929 neo-gothic structure is being incorporated and refurbished. The Harry Gugger Studio-designed tower is set back from the old structure and as it rises, horizontal extensions create cantilevered overhangs on the northwestern and southeastern walls. Harry Gugger has gained an international reputation for his famed designs including the Tate Modern Gallery in London and Beijing's National (Bird's Nest) Stadium. 

The Exchange in Vancouver, image courtesy of Credit Suisse

To achieve LEED Platinum certification, The Exchange contains a number of sustainability features. Storm water will be retained and reused, solar panels will heat water and an efficient triple-glazed curtain wall system combined with solar shades are expected to reduce energy consumption by 50%. Both the new tower and the existing structure will be built, or rebuilt, to the same environmental standard. The building contributes to Vancouver's goal of becoming the world's 'greenest' city by 2020 and represents one of Credit Suisse's first major overseas projects. 

Aerial of The Exchange, image courtesy of Credit Suisse

With the retrofit of the Old Stock Exchange in full swing, the tower is now rising alongside. In an October 17 update, images captured at the site by Forum user mcminsen show construction reaching ground level. The development is expected to be completed in 2017. 

Construction progress as of October 17, image by mcminsen

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