Canadians love to shop at U.S. retail outlets, but soon residents of British Columbia will have not only a new—and popular—American retailer in the heart of Vancouver, but a drab downtown space will get punched up with a multi-million dollar redevelopment.

The Pacific Centre Mall shopping center will completely redo the high-profile Robson and Granville corner to make way for Nordstrom, all while creating more retail and commercial mixed-use space.

While the Sears building’s shell will remain, the new exterior—created for the much-discussed arrival of Nordstrom—will be re-clad in glass, turning an all-white look into a more modern feel.

Nordstrom will take 230,000 sq ft on three floors, including the street level. Also expect an additional 48,000 sq ft of multi-tenant retail space on the lower mall level and four levels of office space, covering 280,000 sq ft. The office space is comprised of four 70,000 sq ft floor plates with 17-foot ceilings, slab to slab.

The project is targeting LEED certification under the LEED: Core & Shell Program. It will offer two atriums to pull light into the otherwise darkened building and a landscaped rooftop amenity.

Originally designed by Cesar Pelli for Eatons in 1973, the space is currently occupied by Sears. The 1970s windowless building hasn’t been popular, though, dulling one of the busiest corners in downtown Vancouver.

James K.M. Cheng designed the project and the contractor for Pacific Centre is Ledcor Group. Callison will serve as the architect for the Nordstrom space and is consulting with Cheng.

With construction slated to begin next month, the center anticipates the new lower-level retail to open in late 2014 and the Nordstrom and upper office space ready in 2015.

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