Townline?s Sussex to rise to 41 storeys in Burnaby?s Metrotown neighbourhood
Kathleen Freimond
The Vancouver Sun
Project: Sussex
Project address: 6050 Sussex Avenue
Project city: Burnaby
Developer: Townline
Architect: Chris Dikeakos Architects Inc.
Interior designer: Insight Design Group
Completion: Late 2019
Project size: 41-storey tower; 321 units
Bedrooms: one, two and three bedrooms; limited number of townhomes and penthouses still available
Unit size: 489 — 1,612 square feet
Price: Starting from $1,7 million for remaining homes
Sales centre: Suite 118 – 5021 Kingsway, Burnaby (entrance on Newton Street)
Sales centre hours: By appointment
Phone: 604-454-0889
Website: townline.ca
Completed: late 2019
A range of signature amenities combined with a location on the quieter, north side of Kingsway in the Metrotown neighbourhood distinguishes the Sussex tower in the booming condo market in Burnaby.
“Sussex is a short walk to the Metrotown SkyTrain station, you’ve got the mall (Metropolis) right there, universities are close by – so is BCIT and schools – yet it’s in a residential enclave,” says Chris Colbeck, vice-president, sales and marketing for developer Townline.
Sussex is a 41-storey building with nine floor plans making up the 321 homes in the development. Unit sizes range from junior one-bedroom condos at 489 square feet to larger townhomes and penthouses of more than 1,600 square feet.
“There is a really good mix of homes and because we are on the top of a hill, there are views from every floor,” Colbeck says. Sussex is attracting first-time buyers, homeowners moving up in the market, downsizers and investors, he adds.
The triangular site at 6050 Kingsway accommodates the residential highrise and a new church. (The church is under separate title.)
“As a result, the tower’s design is sleek and rectangular-shaped and unlike most highrises in the city,” says Richard Bernstein, principal at Chris Dikeakos Architects.
The east side of the building is higher than the west side, allowing for rooftop terraces and balconies to capture views of downtown Vancouver and beyond, Bernstein says.
The tower will rise from an elevated base that features an hotel-inspired lobby with interior walls of marble and wood, a 35-foot-high ceiling and spectacular chandelier. Feng shui principles were incorporated into the design, including moving water, Colbeck says. The lobby design includes a full-service concierge and a box fresh-room that enables homeowners’ food deliveries.
Part of the development’s 6,000 square feet of amenities is a two-lane bowling alley with custom colour-changing LED lights that will add to the fun atmosphere in a space dubbed the Mix. A social lounge, the Jax, connects to the bowling alley; the two areas combine to create a venue for large gatherings or they can be closed off to create two smaller spaces to suit the size of the event. Homeowners can also host dinner parties or private events in the Lux dining lounge, which has a large circular table and all-important chef’s kitchen.
A covered outdoor terrace above the bowling alley with two gas barbecues, seating and harvest tables, offers another option for socializing.
For residents who prefer to entertain in their own units, the kitchens at Sussex will provide the perfect backdrop. One of the distinguishing features of the development is the size and design of the L-shaped kitchens in the one-bedroom units. The kitchens have an oversized island that doubles as a dining area and generous counter and storage space including a pantry cupboard.
“It’s an unbelievable kitchen for a small home,” says Insight Design Group’s Allisa Karvonen. The design team made the most of the space by creating an appliance block: the dishwasher is located below the microwave that is placed at an ergonomic height. Alongside is the refrigerator and freezer, explains Karvonen. A full-extension hidden garbage and recycling centre and pull-out spice rack are standard in the kitchen that features quartz countertops with a waterfall edge on the islands. The soft-close cabinet doors have a glossy finish with grey uppers and white lowers.
Buyers have two palettes to choose from: the darker option, with its rich walnut-colour floors (seen in the show suite), while the other selection has lighter colours and natural-oak laminate floors.
Karvonen says the interior design team worked to integrate the bold lines of the “white box” feature on the exterior of the building into the interiors.
“We pared down the materials to one wood, one stone and one cabinet [in each palette] to maintain the simplicity of what you see on the exterior,” she explains.
In another subtle nod to the building’s exterior, the back wall of the kitchen in the two-bedroom plans has a contrast gable and the cabinet doors match the countertop, creating the impression of a box outline.
“It’s a nice feature that sets it apart from the sea of other projects out there,” Karvonen says.
The major kitchen appliances, including a gas cooktop, are by Bosch. Other appliances include a Blomberg front-loading washer and dryer in a separate laundry closet.
In the main and ensuite bathrooms, the heated floors will be welcome in the cooler months. All bathrooms have quartz countertops and backsplashes, undermount sinks with Hansgrohe chrome faucets and dual flush toilets by Kohler.
Large-format tiles (24 by 12 inches) cover the floors and walls. The tub and shower combo in the main bathroom has a frameless glass panel to contain the splashes without having to use a shower curtain. A thoughtful feature is the cut-out in the glass panel that will allow homeowners to reach in and adjust the temperature of the water before taking a shower.
Parking at Sussex is below grade and for residents who don’t own a vehicle there will be four electric, strata-owned co-op cars.
The sales centre at 5021 Kingsway shows the kitchen in the one-bedroom plans plus a two bedroom, two bathroom and den suite (G floorplan).
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