Located in the heart of Victoria’s high density Core Business Area, The Montrose Wintergarden application proposes a new mixed-use hotel project on the corner of Blanshard and Fort Street that includes the preservation, rehabilitation, and heritage designation of the Montrose Apartments located at the corner of Blanshard Street and View Street.

An Award Winning Team

Grounded in a shared desire to manifest a supremely livable and engaging urban environment that tells our stories of the past and our dreams for the future, Montrose Wintergarden has assembled a distinguished team of Victoria’s architecture and building leaders:

• Project History: Planning for Wintergarden began in 2018 through research and dialogue with local stakeholders and a thoughtful exploration of the commercial and architectural history, and the development potential of the site within its unique neighbourhood.

• Despite the uncertainty that arrived in early 2020, we have great confidence in the recovery of the Victoria market - its attractiveness as one of Canada’s most diverse and livable cities, its entrepreneurial spirit and surging technology sector, and its timeless appeal to visitors from near and far. Our project will contribute to the strength and resiliency of the local economy.

Conceived as a contemporary architectural expression but sympathetic to its downtown neighbourhood and historic neighbours, the design concept had intentions to achieve:

• An architectural landmark at an important intersection contributing to Victoria’s emerging skyline, while maintaining the characteristic roof cornice line of the surrounding early 20th-century fabric;

• A compatible architectural foil to the historic Montrose Apartments and St. Andrew's Cathedral;

• A preserved, rehabilitated, and Heritage Designated Montrose Apartments;

• The addition of an exceptional Wintergarden as a public amenity for downtown Victoria.

• The Fort Street public realm space is enlivened by the interaction of the glass atrium Wintergarden condition while Blanshard and View Streets will have enhanced public spaces due to road narrowing on Blanshard and a curb enhancement on View Street.

• Designed by C. Elwood Watkins, the 3 storey Montrose Apartments building was constructed out of brick in 1912 for Andrew Sheret Ltd. providing ground floor commercial space with housing units above. Andrew Sheret’s plumbing business operated out of the building until the 1950s, and a painted sign advertising Sheret’s Plumbing is still visible on the western facade today. The building was listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 1995, but has not been designated as a heritage building.

• Our proposal seeks to achieve heritage designation for the Montrose Apartments to officially recognize and protect its historic significance.

• Wintergarden Hotel: Located in the Victoria’s historic Fort Street Corridor, our proposal aligns with the City’s Official Community Plan and Downtown Core Area Plan and represents new investment in tourism infrastructure key to the recovery and diversification of Victoria’s visitor economy.

• Located in Victoria’s historic Fort Street corridor, Wintergarden Hotel is a slender 17 storey triangular tower encompassing 128 rooms rising from a 3 storey atrium podium featuring commercial and public space. The architectural design is contemporary while respecting its historic neighbourhood placement.

• 128 guest accommodation units are designed to support extended stay visitors, with in-suite kitchenette and compact, flexible living spaces suited to working travelers and long-term visitors.

• The proposed 200m2 south-facing Wintergarden will become a landmark within the downtown public realm.

Features include:

• The podium structure is a glass-enclosed atrium, heavy timber structure that serves as a grand entrance to offices on levels two and three

• Interior includes a soaring spiral staircase leading to a 4th floor restaurant and indoor/outdoor lounge area with views of the city

• Ground floor café

• Open and inviting multi-purpose space

• Fort Street enhancements such as mature landscaping including new trees, planted boulevards, seating and lighting.

• Wider sidewalk and bike-way.

• The proposal is consistent with Official Community Plan, 2012 (OCP) objectives related to advancing economic and tourism goals, achieving heritage designation of a registered heritage building and securing rental tenure of 21 existing residential units.

• The proposed densities built form are in line with the relevant OCP urban place designation, noting that additional density may be considered in cases where heritage-designation is achieved.

• The proposed massing and density are consistent with the City form and placemaking objectives in the OCP, particularly in response to the landmark building radius and public realm goals to balance new development and heritage conservation.

• The proposal is consistent with the Downtown Core Area Plan, 2011 (DCAP) guidelines aimed at revitalizing the central business district while balancing heritage values and views of heritage landmark through the distribution of density proposed and through a high quality architectural and urban design approach.

Design Rationale:

• Our proposal reaches a maximum of 66 m, or 20 storeys, comprised of a 17 storey hotel tower above a 3 storey podium. The relatively small and constrained site results in a slender building form and small floor plates.

• The triangular floor plates of the tower largely exceeds setback requirements, with only the tips of the building’s wings extending into upper level setback area. These constitute positive elements of the design solution as the angled building form mitigates potential impacts.

• The OCP includes building heights up to 24 storeys in the Core Business area in select locations; however, the exact ‘select locations’ are not specified.

• The DCAP Maximum Building Height is 72m on the neighbouring block immediately to the north.

The Montrose Apartments and Wintergarden Hotel project introduces a new Victoria narrative through elegant and sophisticated architecture that complements enduring heritage legacies, welcoming visitors to experience the city from the perspective of the people who live and work here.