Gastown finds new life with new buildings

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Revitalizing Gastown has been a balancing act, but the effort has paid off with some national recognition.

The architect involved in the neighbourhood's restoration says not only has the past been respected, but modern-day needs taken care of. Mark Ostry of Acton Ostry Architects is behind such Gastown projects as the Garage, the Taylor Building and the Alhambra.

He says the blueprints have come alive without having to displace the people who've long called it home. "They take something from the area, and reflect it back and revitalize it with housing, and commercial spaces, and offices," he notes.

The Gastown Revitalization Project is the recipient of the 2010 Canadian Green Building Award and the 2010 Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Gold Medal in Architecture.