Close to 11,000 square feet of artist space has been approved for a development in downtown Vancouver. Earlier this week, Vancouver city council approved a rezoning application that paves the way for a 41-storey residential building at Howe and Drake Streets that will house 10,872 square feet of cultural amenity space that includes individual studios, office, storage, atrium, and presentation windows.

As currently proposed, the mixed development, which is being built by Howe Street Developments Limited Partnership and designed by Merrick Architecture-Borowski Sakukmoto Fligg Limited, is to have 348 residential units and 17 Class B artist studios. According to architectural drawings, the proposed studios are to range from 245 to 405 square feet in size.

They are to be equipped with higher ventilation and sound proofing to allow for artist working with noxious substances, higher soundproofing, and industrial fittings.

Upon completion, ownership of the artist studios amenity space would be transferred to the city, along with $850,000 to be held in a facility reserve fund to offset the space’s amenity costs for 16 to 20 years.

To read the full rezoning report click here.