Living Shangri-La

Living Shangri-La is a skyscraper in Downtown Vancouver with 62 floors above ground and 7 levels below, rising to 201 meters (660 feet). The structure combines glass and steel, housing a luxury hotel with 119 rooms on the lower floors and 307 residential units in the upper levels.

Construction started in 2005 and finished in January 2009, creating a major addition to the city's skyline. The project became part of Vancouver's downtown transformation during the 2000s and shaped the modern appearance of the area.

The name references a legendary place associated with harmony and beauty across many cultures. Public areas inside feature art installations that connect the building to Vancouver's creative community and local artistic traditions.

Access to residential areas is restricted, but visitors can explore the public art spaces and ground-level areas freely. The public spaces are best visited during daytime when the building feels most active and welcoming.

The excavation required removing earth equivalent to about 15,000 truckloads to create the seven underground levels. This massive earthwork reveals how deep foundations must go to support such structures in urban Vancouver.

Location: Vancouver

Inception: 2008

Architects: James K. M. Cheng

Official opening: January 24, 2009

Architectural style: modern architecture

Floors above the ground: 62

Floors below the ground: 7

Elevators: 13

Height: 201 m

Website: http://shangri-la.com/vancouver/shangrila

GPS coordinates: 49.28583,-123.12361

Latest update: December 7, 2025 09:22