At 530 ft tall, The Stack will soar into the top spot in Vancouver, B.C., as the tallest commercial tower in the Canadian city when it opens in 2022.

The 540,000-sq-ft office development is the largest currently underway in Vancouver and has already signed pre-leases from Ernst & Young LLP, Blakes and DLA Piper, all totaling 207,000 sq ft of space, says Oxford Properties Group,

When The Stack opens at its downtown location on Melville Street near Vancouver’s waterfront, it will be the city’s third-tallest building.

Demolition has started on the site to make way for construction to begin in the first quarter of 2019. Designed in collaboration between James Cheng Architects and Adamson Associates Architects, The Stack features a climbing, twisting box design offering panoramic views. The four-box approach to design also allows for differentiation in interior design throughout the tower. The design features six outdoor decks, a pocket park and a rooftop patio. 

“With The Stack now launched, we’re adding significant and much-needed new supply to Vancouver’s extremely tight office market and to accommodate the city’s economic growth,” says Chuck We, vice president of office at Oxford, in a statement. “The Stack is one of the most forward-thinking office projects in Vancouver. Not only does it break new ground by incorporating employee wellness into the fabric of its design through its use of natural light, outdoor space and cycling amenities, we’re future-proofing the building with the adoption of Smart Building technology and multimodal transportation options.”

Targeting LEED Platinum, The Stack is one of two high-rise towers in Canada to join the Net Zero Carbon pilot program.

The announced leases make up virtually the entirety of the top two boxes, leaving the bottom two boxes — they feature additional ceiling heights and larger floor plates ranging from 15,000 to 22,000 sq ft — left available. Ernst & Young will take 60,000 sq ft, while Blakes, a law firm, will occupy 80,000 sq ft.

“The location provides quick access to our downtown clientele, the waterfront, great amenities and is a short walk to transit options,” says Bill Maclagan, managing partner of the Vancouver office of Blakes, in a statement. “It’s going to be the premier business location in the entire city and we’re excited to be part of it.”

DLA Piper, a law firm with locations in over 40 countries, will take 67,000 sq ft. Dan MacDougall, COO of DLA Piper Canada, says in a statement that the “world-class office space and amenities” will assist the firm in attracting and retaining the top talent in the market.

Fiona Macfarlane, managing partner of EY, B.C., says space matters for leading-edge companies. “Vancouver is a beautiful city with a wonderful lifestyle and The Stack’s design, which blends indoors and outdoors space, really personifies that.”

The Stack development project is co-owned by Oxford and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, each holding a 50 percent stake.

Follow Tim Newcomb on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.