The first phase of Oakridge Park has opened in Vancouver, marking the first publicly accessible section of the redevelopment of a former suburban shopping centre.
The 28-acre project is being developed by QuadReal Property Group, a Canadian real estate investment and development company, and Westbank, a Vancouver-based real estate developer. Built on the site of the former Oakridge Centre, the scheme is transforming eight city blocks into a mixed-use district that will combine housing, offices, civic facilities, public parkland, cultural venues, and retail space.
Designed by Henriquez Partners Architects, the redevelopment replaces a post-war shopping centre with a mixed-use district organised around housing, public space, and community facilities.
The opening follows more than 15 years of planning and consultation for what the developers describe as Canada’s largest redevelopment.
A former shopping centre reshaped at city scale
Oakridge Park spans approximately five million square feet across residential, office, civic, cultural, and retail uses.
The completed project will include homes for more than 6,000 residents, 700,000ft2 of office space, a 100,000-square-foot community centre, daycare facilities, a Vancouver Public Library branch, and a range of cultural and recreational amenities.
Residential construction is reported to be approximately 85% complete, with the first residents expected to move in during the second quarter of 2026.
The newly opened phase centres on the retail district, which spans more than 650,000ft2 and accommodates more than 100 local and international brands. The opening also includes Time Out Market Vancouver, a 51,000-square-foot food hall bringing together local chefs, restaurateurs, and food businesses.
Nine-acre park and public art shape the public realm
A nine-acre public park forms a central part of the redevelopment, extending over portions of the retail structure and connecting different parts of the site.
The park includes playgrounds, community gardens, performance spaces, cycling routes, a running loop, and areas designed for public events and concerts. The landscape replaces land previously occupied by surface parking and retail infrastructure.
The development also incorporates a district energy system and an on-site energy plant designed to reduce carbon emissions by more than 70%.
Public art has been integrated throughout the project. Newly installed works include pieces by Diamond Point, Howie Tsui, Haegue Yang, and Brian Jungen, alongside interactive installations and a collection of glass artworks created by Czech glassmaker Lasvit.
Residential and civic components remain under construction
While the retail district is now open, significant parts of Oakridge Park remain under development.
Future phases will deliver residential buildings, community facilities, and additional public spaces across the site as construction continues.
Once completed, the project will bring housing, employment space, cultural facilities, and public amenities to one of Vancouver’s key transit hubs, replacing the former Oakridge Centre with a mixed-use urban district.
Images: Courtesy of QuadReal Property Group
