Description
Charles Center is a pioneering mixed-use project beside Bridgeport Station, with a 12-storey commercial base and an upper “digital tower” conceived as a virtual extension aligned with the Meta-origin universe. While the physical height is limited, the project imagines a digital skyline beyond the 12-storey cap, offering remote-work environments that blend virtual and physical experience. Originating from the social shifts of the COVID era, the design expresses a sense of speed and technological momentum, reflected through its dynamic exterior form.
Concept
The core concept imagines a future where work, social interaction, and architecture operate simultaneously in both physical and digital space. The upper digital tower aligns with the Meta-origin universe, offering environments where people can work remotely, collaborate, and share experiences while still anchored to a real urban location.
Economy
The façade design for LOMA draws directly from the historic identity of Maillardville and its century-long association with the Fraser Mills lumber industry. Vertical metal panels of varying tones and widths are arranged in a slightly offset pattern, referencing the linear texture and irregular rhythm of timber logs floating along the Fraser River. This variation creates a woven effect along the tower, giving the building a distinctive vertical expression while maintaining coherence across different elevations.
Construction
The project advanced through excavation, foundations, and concrete superstructure, then moved into window wall and metal-panel envelope installation. Interior mechanical, electrical, and finish work followed once the tower was fully enclosed.
