Polaris is a 36-storey residential tower overlooking Metrotown and Bonsor Park in Burnaby, BC. The building includes 313 units ranging from one to three-bedroom suites, plus a limited number of townhomes.
A unique structural challenge arose at the southeast corner of the development, where the column geometry was misaligned between the tower levels and the parking structure. Rather than relying on transfer beams, we developed a customized fluctuating column design. In the tower, the columns are long and rectangular to integrate with interior room layouts. In the parking levels, they shift to square profiles to suit the parking stall configuration.
This transition was resolved within the double-height space between L1 and L3, allowing us to taper the column shapes while also enhancing the architectural expression of the public art and fountain plaza. The result is a seamless integration of structural with both landscape and architectural intent.
The development includes over 10,000 SF of commercial and amenity spaces. The tower is capped with an LED lighting feature, giving it a distinctive presence on the Burnaby skyline.