At the northwest corner of Broadway and Alma, Leckie Studio's 16-storey rental tower for Westbank introduces sculptural concrete forms, family-sized rental housing, and Musqueam-inspired public art to one of Point Grey's busiest intersections.
Design and Inspiration
Named The Raven by Westbank, the project takes its name from the public art installation above the building entrance. Spa:l' (Raven) by Thomas Cannell features three ravens symbolizing transformation and protection. Inspired by nature and Musqueam traditions, the vibrant aluminum figures contrast with the building's concrete architecture.
The building sits at the west end of the Broadway corridor, one of Vancouver's busiest transit routes. Architect Michael Leckie says the site "called for an iconic building to anchor the busy transit corridor and urban axis."
Rental Housing with Room for Families
The project is entirely rental, with 164 homes spread across the 16-storey tower. Of those, 131 are market rental units, while 33 are secured below-market rentals intended for households earning between $30,000 and $80,000 annually through the City of Vancouver's Moderate-Income Rental Housing Pilot Program.
The building includes a mix of unit types, from smaller apartments to larger family-oriented homes. In total, 59 of the residences are two and three-bedroom units designed for families. Four retail spaces are located at street level.
Every home includes either a balcony or terrace, providing private outdoor space. Residents also have access to rooftop amenity areas overlooking downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains. Landscaped terraces soften the building's stepped form while adding greenery for residents and neighbours alike.
At the west side of the site, a pedestrian pathway leads to three townhouse units integrated into the development.
Stacked with Purpose
The building's most distinctive feature is its staggered massing. Leckie says the stacked massing was "very ambitious" and "was achievable through rigorous unit planning to allow the building's structural loading to transfer between volumes."
The tallest portion of the building is positioned at the southeast corner, marking the end of the Broadway corridor while helping reduce shadowing on neighbouring residential buildings. The form then steps downward toward the west side, allowing it to transition more comfortably toward future lower-scale development nearby.
Standardized, but Distinctive
For Leckie, one of the project's greatest successes is the way the architecture uses standardization to support both design quality and construction efficiency.
"The architecture is designed with a rigorous approach to standardization as a means to maximize value in the construction process. The exterior cladding is a custom prefabricated concrete panel system that uses a standardized series of components," says Leckie.
Overall, The Raven represents a design-led approach to rental housing that prioritizes family-friendly living, public art, and architectural distinction on Vancouver's west side.
