Alberni by Kengo Kuma

April 2022 Canadian Architect Cover

Alberni by Kengo Kuma

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, this 43-storey residential tower is currently under construction in downtown Vancouver, located at 1568 Alberni.

Per the architect’s description:

The tower meets the ground with two intersecting domes that embrace Alberni and Cardero. Under the arching structures, an extensive moss garden defines the entrance and flows upwards to the swimming pool above.

It is within these arching structures that the massive glass wall we’re supporting is located.

Some key challenges that this project presents:

• Highest point of wall is 12.2m [40’] tall
• Huge pieces of glass at 5m [over 16’] high x 2.5m [8’] wide
• Glass walls are designed at a slope and located in a potentially corrosive swimming pool environment
• Glass panels we’re supporting are complex shapes comprised of IGUs with PVB laminate on the inside and outside

The Stella Solution was created via collaboration with the entire team.
We designed a sloping support system complete with custom hardware to support the massive slopes of glass and implemented precautionary measures to prevent corrosion (with the assistance of our metallurgist expert).

We’re excited to share more about our unique solution when this project is completed (anticipated for end of this year).