Site D at UBC — better known as Focal — has received its occupancy permits, and is ready to welcome tenants and new retailers, including several new restaurants for the Vancouver campus.
The GBL Architects-designed, mixed-use building includes 101 purpose-built rental units available to UBC students, staff and faculty — as well as six retail units on the ground floor.
Retailers slated to open in Focal include several new restaurants, including:
- Brown’s Social House
- Kinton Ramen
- Body Energy Club
Across the street at the David Strangway Building, the former location of Mahoney & Son’s is being subdivided into several smaller retail units. Slated to open soon are:
- Ryuu Japanese Kitchen
- Steve’s Poke Bar
- Chatime
The new development, Focal, and the renovation of the David Strangway Building will bring six additional food and beverage outlets to the UBC Vancouver campus — big news on a campus with thousands of students, staff and faculty.
The development also includes a new MacInnes Field behind the building, with one level of underground parking and a new turf surface.
Improvements have also been made to the public realm around the development, linking it to the Nest and former SUB (now known as the Life Building).
Editor’s note: Peter Meiszner is an employee of the University of British Columbia.