Darwin Properties is set to make significant design changes to its proposed mixed-use development at 1310 Monashee Drive, eliminating a previously planned rooftop amenity and removing private balconies from many student-oriented units.
According to the report, the changes are part of a broader redesign of the project, which will bring 303 rental units and nearly 800 square metres of commercial space to a site directly across from Capilano University.
The development, which will serve students, staff, and faculty at Capilano University, is expected to go before the District of North Vancouver council for development permit approval. The project will include a mix of market and below-market rental units, with 50 per cent of all units reserved exclusively for the university community.
The design revisions come as Darwin Properties refines its proposal since the rezoning was adopted in April 2024. According to the report, the changes reflect a deliberate effort to prioritize student safety while still delivering a well-articulated building that serves a broad range of residents.
Safety Drives Key Design Changes
The removal of the rooftop amenity and balconies from many units will be made with student safety specifically in mind, the report states. While the rooftop space will be eliminated, private balconies will only be removed from student-oriented units. Units intended for the general public and university faculty and staff will retain their balconies.
According to the report, the remaining balconies will be strategically positioned across the buildings to enhance the visual expression of the facades rather than removed wholesale. Staff worked with the applicant to ensure the building’s exterior would still maintain architectural interest and variation despite the reductions.
Amenity Spaces Redesigned for Light and Connection
In place of the rooftop amenity, indoor and ground-level spaces will be redesigned to better serve residents. The north building’s ground floor will be reorganized to shift amenity spaces toward the central courtyard, increasing access to natural daylight and strengthening the connection between indoor and outdoor common areas.
The staff noted that the redesigned amenity spaces will offer a wider variety of gathering options, ranging from 225-square-foot quiet study rooms to 1,600-square-foot social spaces. The south building will also see changes, with its ground floor revised to remove a breezeway and add amenity space alongside a realigned lobby.
According to the report, glazing will also be added to stairwells throughout the buildings to bring more natural light into interior corridors and to contribute to the overall facade design — a response to feedback received from the District’s Advisory Design Panel, which reviewed the project in May 2025 and recommended approval subject to several design refinements.
The project is now before the Council for consideration of the Development Permit. If approved, construction is anticipated to begin with demolition in early 2026, with excavation and building work expected to run through to fall 2028.
