Sea2City design concepts showcase ways to adapt to sea level rise

July 13 2022 –

As part of our Sea2City Design Challenge, two multidisciplinary teams will present design concepts to help Vancouver innovate and adapt to rising sea levels and coastal flooding over the short and long-term. 

Sea2City pop-up event

You are invited to attend the Sea2City pop-up event to check-out the design concepts for four sites in False Creek:

  • Olympic Village
  • Stamps Landing
  • Coopers’ Park
  • A site between Burrard Bridge and Granville Bridge, across from Granville Island

Event details

  • When: July 17, 2022 from noon to 3pm 
  • Where: Milton Wong plaza in Olympic Village

Design concepts

The design concepts look out to a future where, as forecasted by the province and the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change, sea levels have risen two metres. The designs are presented as architectural drawings and renderings to stimulate conversation on how False Creek might transform as the shoreline changes. 

Both teams envision a vibrant, future False Creek where a more naturalized shoreline — with local trees, shrubs, and aquatic plants—provides a healthier, safer place for people. Restored and resilient habitat areas provide homes for a diversity of species. Host Nations, who have been active partners in the transformation, are visible and celebrated as the stewards of the lands and waters, while Indigenous knowledge and guidance continues to breathe life into False Creek.

Town Choir

The Sea2City event will also feature Town Choir, a one-hour performance at 1pm by Theatre Replacement and the Vancouver Youth Choir . This multimedia, choral experience focuses on a changing climate and sea level rise. A photography project will also be on display showing how residents imagine they may be impacted by rising sea levels in and around False Creek. City staff will be available to talk about sea level rise and coastal adaptation in False Creek and other parts of the city. 

About Sea2City

Sea2City brings together practitioners in landscape architecture, urban planning, environmental sciences, and engineering who have experience planning for sea level rise and coastal flooding. 

The two Sea2City design teams are led by Mithun+One (Seattle/Netherlands) and PWL Partnership (Vancouver), together with a mix of local and international firms with practitioners based in Vancouver, San Francisco, New York, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. They have been supported by City staff, technical experts, Indigenous knowledge-holders, and a community advisory group. 

A unique Youth Adaptation Lab has also been working on the project in partnership with CityHive, a youth-led organization whose mission it is to transform the way young people shape their cities and the civic processes that engage them.

Learn more about Sea2City 

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