Paradox Hotel Vancouver

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Paradox Hotel Vancouver
Trump Tower Vancouver, August 2016.jpg
The Paradox Hotel Vancouver under construction in August 2016
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeResidential/Hotel
Architectural styleStructural Expressionism
Location1139 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Coordinates49°17′10″N 123°07′24″W / 49.28611°N 123.12333°W / 49.28611; -123.12333Coordinates: 49°17′10″N 123°07′24″W / 49.28611°N 123.12333°W / 49.28611; -123.12333
Construction started2012
Completed2016
Opened28 February 2017
Closed28 August 2020(hotel)
CostUS$360 million
OwnerHolborn Group
ManagementTA Global Berhad
Height
Architectural187.8 metres (616 ft)
Roof178 metres (584 ft)
Technical details
Floor count60
Lifts/elevators12
Design and construction
Architect(s)Arthur Erickson,
Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership,
DYS Architecture
DeveloperHolborn Group
Main contractorUrban One Builders
Other information
Number of units217 apartments and 147 hotel rooms
Parking346 spaces
Website
www.paradoxhotels.com/vancouver
References
[1][2][3]

The Paradox Hotel Vancouver, formerly known as the Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver, is a residential skyscraper and hotel in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The 60-storey, 188-metre (617 ft) tower in which the hotel was located in is at 1151 West Georgia Street and was completed in 2016. The tower is the second tallest building in Vancouver, after the Shangri-La tower located across West Georgia Street.

The tower, designed by architect Arthur Erickson, is triangular in shape, twisting gradually with height up to 45 degrees from bottom to top. The building is described as having a 'hyperbolic paraboloid' form; the design is similar to the Absolute Tower in Mississauga, Ontario and Turning Torso in Malmö, Sweden.

In 2020, staff for the hotel and its website indicated the hotel would close.[4][5] Over 250 employees had already been temporarily laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hotel employees reported that they learned of the hotel closure from the media or they were informed without warning that they had lost their jobs permanently.[6]

Minor renovations and rebranding on the Vancouver tower began in late 2021, including the removal of all “TRUMP” branded exterior building signage. The hotel re-opened in April 2022.[7] [8]

History

The initial project was cancelled on February 25, 2009. Buyers who purchased luxury condos in the tower received letters informing them of the project's cancellation. On June 1, 2009, Holborn Group president Joo Kim Tiah said his company still wanted to see the plan completed on the prime downtown site—if the City of Vancouver wanted to work with him.[9]

On August 21, 2009, it was announced that the project would definitely resume, possibly as an even taller building (pending approval from the city) while keeping the same design by Arthur Erickson who died in May of the same year. Work on the project would resume as soon as early 2010, after the Winter Olympics (construction work was not permitted during the Olympics). However, it was not certain as of August 21, 2009, if the Ritz-Carlton "brand" would still remain associated with the project.[10] Developers announced August 27, 2009, that the project will proceed. They are re-proposing the project, requesting a height increase from 182.9 metres (600 ft) to 187.8 metres (616 ft). The proposal called for a higher number of smaller housing units with a more efficient use of floor space while keeping the exterior of the tower aesthetically unchanged (outside of the height increase).[11] The new proposal went through a series of public hearings before Vancouver city council was scheduled to vote on it in November 2009.

The project was finally revitalized in mid-2011 without Ritz-Carlton as the hotelier. The tower was posthumously redesigned from 58 to 67 stories and an additional 2 floors of underground parking. In mid-2012, the new hotel tenant was announced to be Marriott. Excavation recommenced in the spring of 2012, with actual construction work beginning in August. By November 2012, the foundation had been completed and substantial construction had commenced, with half of the first floor of parking being completed.

In 2013 at a local press conference, Holborn Group president Joo Kim Tiah, developer of the site, along with The Trump Organization president Donald Trump, accompanied by his three children Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, unveiled the $360 million Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver. Holborn Group's Construction Manager for the project was Vancouver-based Urban One Builders, who later also completed UBC Brock Commons Tallwood House, the tallest wood building in Canada.

The 63-story condo and hotel complex opened on February 28, 2017, with Donald Jr. and Eric Trump joined by developer Joo Kim Tiah. The opening was met with public protests and a boycott of the ceremony by Mayor Robertson and other local politicians.[12] The building consisted of the Trump Hotel on the first 15 floors, topped by 217 condos on the remaining floors.[13]

On March 1, 2018, US news organization CNN reported that the US FBI had opened a counterintelligence investigation into Ivanka Trump; scrutinizing her international business deals at the tower.[14]

On August 28, 2020, the hotel reportedly closed permanently and is filing for bankruptcy.[15]

On December 23, 2021 the all Trump branding was removed from the shuttered hotel. [16]

On April 1, 2022 TA Global Berhad reopened the hotel under the brand Paradox Hotel Group and the name Paradox Hotel Vancouver. [17]

Awards

[18][19][20][21]

2016

  • Forbes Most Anticipated Hotel Openings 2016
  • Elite Traveler Canada's #1 Real Estate Development, Top 100 Developments in the World 2016

2017

  • “Best International Hotel Architecture” 2017
  • Canada’s Best Hotel Interior” 2017
  • “Canada’s Best Hotel Architecture” 2017
  • “New Hotel Construction & Design” 2017
  • “Residential High-Rise and Architecture” 2017
  • “Development Marketing” 2017
  • “Residential High-rise Development” 2017
  • Mixed-use Development” 2017

2018

  • Forbes Five-Star Hotel Award 2018
  • Forbes Most Luxurious Hotels 2018
  • Forbes Four-Star Spa Awards, The Spa by Ivanka Trump 2018
  • Diners’ Choice Awards Vancouver “Best Fine Dining Restaurant” 2018
  • AAA Four Diamond Award 2018
  • Forbes Four-Star Restaurant Awards, Mott 32 2018[22]

2019

  • AAA Four Diamond Award 2019
  • Forbes Five-Star Hotel Award 2019
  • "Best Hotels in Canada" Gold Badge Winner 2019
  • Forbes Four-Star Restaurant Awards, Mott 32 2019[23]

2020

  • Forbes Five-Star Hotel Award 2020
  • Forbes Five-Star Spa Awards, The Spa by Ivanka Trump 2020
  • Forbes Four-Star Restaurant Awards, Mott 32 2020[24]

Hotel

The original 147-room hotel, located on the first 15 floors of the building, included two restaurants, 560-square-metre (6,000 sq ft), one spa, and 1,400-square-metre (15,000 sq ft) of meeting and event space. The hotel also featured Vancouver's first pool bar nightclub.[25]

Facilities

  • Karma Champagne Lounge
  • Mott 32
  • Mansion Nightclub

Spa

  • Xylia Natural Spa

Amenities

[26][27]

  • Nanny services
  • Personalized stationery, business cards, in-room fax machine and computers, upon request
  • Business centre
  • ATM
  • Clefs d’Or elevated Concierge Services
  • Valet parking available at $55 CAD nightly with in and out privileges
  • Complimentary digital newspaper and magazine services
  • Overnight laundry, dry cleaning and shoe polishing services
  • West coast breakfast buffet on the Upper Lobby of the hotel
  • 24-Hour in-room dining with international and local selections
  • Personal assistance and grocery shopping if requested through the Trump Attaché® program
  • A heated indoor swimming pool surrounded by private poolside leather-upholstered booths
  • Indoor swimming pool and outdoor Jacuzzi
  • Fitness Centre with an array of Technogym ARTIS® equipment

Reception

On December 15, 2015, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson wrote a letter to the developers of the tower, asking them to remove Donald Trump's name from the building. Robertson stated that "Trump’s name and brand have no more place on Vancouver’s skyline than his ignorant ideas have in the modern world." A petition to remove the name was also mentioned in the letter, with more than 5000 residents voicing their concerns. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark agreed with the movement, stating that "Donald Trump doesn’t represent our city." Similar movements occurred in Toronto where a default by Talon led to the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto, now The St. Regis Toronto, being purchased for renovation and renaming in 2017.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
  2. ^ "Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver". Emporis. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver, Vancouver". skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  4. ^ Recksiedler, Dean; Hall, Michael (August 28, 2020). "Vancouver's Trump hotel closes permanently: reports". CityNews Vancouver. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  5. ^ Brown, Scott. "Vancouver's Trump hotel closes doors for good". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  6. ^ Brend, Yvette (August 29, 2020). "Trump Hotel in Vancouver closes as company files for bankruptcy". CBC. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  7. ^ "Trump Tower Vancouver to be rebranded as Paradox Hotel | Urbanized". dailyhive.com. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  8. ^ "Former Trump Vancouver to reopen as Paradox Hotel in April | Urbanized". dailyhive.com. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  9. ^ "Developer trying to save building" Archived February 29, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Metro Vancouver, June 1, 2009.
  10. ^ "Developers simplify design" Archived July 18, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Daily Commercial News, August 21, 2009.
  11. ^ "Policy Report Development and Building : P1" (PDF). Vancouver.ca. November 3, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Valdes, Manuel; Gillies, Rob (February 28, 2017). "Trump sons open newest hotel in Vancouver". Associated Press. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  13. ^ Brent Jang. "Trump brand arrives in B.C. with Vancouver tower plan". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  14. ^ Sara Murray; Shimon Prokupecz; Kara Scannell. "FBI counterintel looks at Ivanka Trump business deal". CNN. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  15. ^ "Trump International Hotel Vancouver is permanently closed | Urbanized". dailyhive.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  16. ^ "Trump name officially removed from Vancouver hotel building - BC | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Chan, Kenneth (March 15, 2022). "Paradox Hotel Vancouver prepares for opening ahead of peak tourism season". Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "Awards & Accolades". WaybackMachine. Archived from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver". Forbes Travel Guide. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  20. ^ "TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOWER VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA". Trump.com. Trump Organization. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  21. ^ "AWARDS & ACCOLADES". TrumpHotels.com. Trump Vancouver. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  22. ^ "MOTT 32 HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST AWARDED RESTAURANTS IN VANCOUVER". Mott32.com/vancouver. Mott 32. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "MOTT 32 HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST AWARDED RESTAURANTS IN VANCOUVER". Mott32.com/vancouver. Mott 32. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  24. ^ "Mott 32". Forbes Travel Guide. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  25. ^ "Luxury Downtown Vancouver Hotels | Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver | Vancouver Spas". Trumphotelcollection.com. September 20, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  26. ^ "PROPERTY AMENITIES". Trumphotels.com/vancouver. Trump Hotels. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  27. ^ "SERVICES & AMENITIES". Waybackmachine.org. Trump Hotels. Archived from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  28. ^ "Toronto hotel has to pay millions to Donald Trump's company to drop his brand". Financialpost.

External links

*City of Vancouver building proposal (PDF, includes pictures; accessed on January 28, 2006)