Design panel rejects controversial 'origami tower'

VANCOUVER - The City of Vancouver's design panel has rejected a controversial waterfront development dubbed the "origami tower."

The 26-storey, multi-sided glass tower would have been placed on Cordova Street next door to the heritage Waterfront Station.

In Pictures: Origami tower proposed for Vancouver waterfront

Cadillac Fairview had proposed the development, which was designed by renowned architects including Chicago-based Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture.

Some Vancouver experts had spoken out against the tower, with local architect and developer Michael Geller calling it an "amorphous geometric blob."

He says the location of the proposed building -- nestled between two heritage buildings including the 100-year-old station -- was of particular concern.

The panel rejected the so-called Waterfront Tower at a meeting yesterday, forcing the architects to redesign the building before returning.

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  A unique-looking 26-storey high-rise is slated to be built smack between two heritage buildings on Vancouver’s waterfront. (Cadillac Fairview)

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  A 26-storey high-rise is slated to be built between two heritage buildings in downtown Vancouver. The 127-metre tall “Waterfront Tower” boasts an origami-like look, and will contain 22 floors of office space, and views of the water and mountains from every floor. (Cadillac Fairview)