Surreal 200-ft high, glass-bottom swimming pool in downtown Vancouver

There's now a surreal 200-ft high, glass-bottom pool in downtown Vancouver (PHOTOS)

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

When it comes to the amenities of a residential building, there is nothing like what is being suspended on the underside of a visual gateway tower into the downtown Vancouver peninsula from the Cambie Street Bridge.

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The nearly-completed, 30-storey ARC Vancouver tower, developed by Concord Pacific, features a glass-bottom pool on the 20th floor — the bottom of the arching portion of the structure — that allows swimmers to look 200 ft down onto the public plaza below.

ARC Vancouver 998 Expo Boulevard Concord Pacific glass-bottom

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

ARC Vancouver 998 Expo Boulevard Concord Pacific

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

“The owner of the company, Terry Hui, wanted to make a statement with the building,” Peter Udzenija with Concord Pacific told Daily Hive today during a ceremonial first dip for media.

“He is at a point at his life where he would prefer something very cool, and this is the final product we see now. The big thing for us is the fact that this is going to be fun, and it’s for so many families who will be living here.”

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

It is also the highest large-scale, glass-bottom pool in Canada; the pool dimensions measure 38 ft by nearly 9 ft, with a maximum depth of just over 5 ft.

The six-inch thick acrylic glass spanning the entire area of the pool’s floor is engineered to support the weight of about 1,650 cars.

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

As a feat of engineering, this pool is the most expensive price per sq. ft. condominium amenity ever built in Canada. Only three companies in the world have the know-how of making the pool bottom, and just one is located in North America, specifically Colorado-based Reynolds Polymer.

Prior to its installation, the translucent pool panel was safely stored inside the building while the rest of the building was being constructed around it.

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

“The precarious and challenging pool installation only made our job more interesting as we had to store the solid acrylic panel among the construction while the building was being completed, and lower the panel into place once construction was finished,” said Mark Johnson with Reynolds Polymer in a statement.

“The ARC’s extraordinary design continues throughout the entire building and manufacturing a piece of acrylic that realizes its beauty is always an honour for our engineers.”

While the pool is certainly the centrepiece of the tower’s design, it is enhanced by a colourful ‘Ode to Canada’ ceiling design. During nighttime, the illuminated pool, with light bouncing off the ceiling, turns the underside into a beacon for the tower.

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

The $250-million glass-clad, curving tower, located at 998 Expo Boulevard, the north end of the bridge, has a total of 560 homes, along with some ground-level retail that will help activate the newly-created public realm, including the expansive plaza space.

“Located at the foot of Cambie Bridge, The ARC responds to its unique site and vibrant urban context by its organic shape and undulating façade, which is inspired by natural elements like wind and shoreline,” explained Walter Francl of Francl Architects, the team behind the tower’s design.

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

“Its curves are meticulously crafted to achieve desired perspectives from all angles, while providing maximum shading and views for suites, added Francl.

“With an articulated facade and fluid landscape design, this development is perceived as a light and welcoming building for both vehicular and pedestrian experience as they move around the building. The perspectives vary as you approach the site, making The ARC a very animated and unique development in this dynamic part of downtown Vancouver.”

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

This Concord Pacific’s second unique residential pool amenity concept. Just next door at its One Pacific tower, a cantilevered, semi-glass bottomed pool hovers just above the building’s main entrance.

ARC Vancouver at 998 Expo Boulevard, Vancouver. (Concord Pacific)

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