A new era in urban living and retail is about to begin in Vancouver. Oakridge Park, the sweeping retail and residential megaproject that has reshaped the city’s skyline and redefined what a shopping mall can be, is set to open its doors to the public on May 28 at 11 a.m.
The project, jointly developed by QuadReal Property Group and Westbank, has been described as a “monumental redevelopment” and it’s hard to argue otherwise. When fully complete in 2029, the site will span five million square feet at a projected cost of around $6.5 billion, making it one of the largest construction undertakings of its kind anywhere on the continent.
What opens later this month is just the first chapter. Phase one covers approximately 2.8 million square feet and includes 650,000 square feet of retail space, nearly 1,400 residential units, and 720,000 square feet of dedicated office space. Shoppers can expect a curated tenant lineup that blends luxury with everyday appeal names like Louis Vuitton and Aritzia are already confirmed for the mall floor.
But perhaps the most striking feature isn’t inside at all. Sitting atop the mall will be a 3.6-hectare municipal park roughly the size of several city blocks offering green space in the heart of an increasingly dense urban neighbourhood. The rooftop park will be partially open when the mall launches, with further phases expected to follow.
The broader vision extends well beyond retail. By the time the final phase wraps up, Oakridge Park is slated to include more than 3,300 residential and rental units, ultimately housing upward of 6,000 people. In effect, the developers aren’t just building a mall they’re building a neighbourhood.
For Vancouverites who watched cranes dominate the Cambie Street corridor for years, May 28 marks the moment a long-promised transformation finally becomes tangible.
