The architectural sunshades on the residential tower's south and west facades are an iconic feature, lending both practicality and a unique identity to the building. The distinctive origami-like screens were inspired by the nautical surroundings – seagulls and seaplanes in Coal Harbour and the hang-gliders that can be seen catapulting off Grouse Mountain in the distance. At West Georgia Street, the building comprises a slender 26-storey, mixed-use residential, office and retail tower. Along Pender Street, the scale of the tower drops to 21 storeys to respond to the character of the neighbouring buildings and a shift in the city grid.
The tower sits atop a four-storey podium with at-grade retail and 45,000 ft2 of office space above. Designed to LEED-Gold standards, the project will also connect to a future neighbourhood district energy network. The tower's dual identity gives the building its unique form and reduces the overall structure's perceived mass. Cardero is a new mixed-use development that replaces an ageing office building with retail at grade, co-op office space, market residential and public realm improvements. The building provides 118 market residential housing units on 21 levels, with 60% suitable for families with children.
The residential units were designed to frame Vancouver's water and mountain views and maximize usability for residents. Additional on-site amenities include multi-purpose spaces, a common roof deck and urban agricultural plots.