Let’s Do The Twist

This is my latest article published in the March 2026 issue of LD+A.

The Stack is rooted in theatrical design principles

Rising above Vancouver’s skyline, The Stack at 1133 Melville Street is more than an office tower—it’s a statement in sustainable architecture and lighting design. As Canada’s tallest zero-carbon building, its sculptural form and choreographed illumination redefine how performance, aesthetics, and environmental responsibility can coexist. From its twisting geometry to its artfully illuminated public spaces, The Stack demonstrates that light is not just functional—it’s an integral design language shaping the experience of architecture.

The 37-story office tower’s design consists of four offset boxes with a 6-deg twisting “stack” atop a podium. Most visually striking are the 6-deg box rotations, prodigious V-column, generous ceiling heights, and ground-level public park. The signature 55-ft-tall, V-shaped column supports cantilevered upper floors, while a black metal veil texturizes a tall lobby, visible through a glass-curtain wall façade. This sculptural interplay of structure, texture, and transparency sets the stage for a lighting design that accentuates architectural forms……

Read the complete LD+A article here.

Image above: The 55-ft-tall V-column is complemented by uplights highlighting the black veil, creating a balanced effect on the façade. | Photos: Andrew Latreille.