Gregory Henriquez

In Henriquez’ books Towards an Ethical Architecture (2006), Body Heat (2010), and Citizen City (2016) he discusses the role that architects can have in society and the place of ethics, activism and critical commentary within contemporary practice. In the books, Henriquez states that he grapples with these themes in his practice: overcoming the collective amnesia of architecture's ethical dimension and exploring a sense of authentic expression beyond conventional style to ultimately nurture the growth of an inclusive city.

In the book, Citizen City (2016), Henriquez promotes his vision for the ideal city, one that “transcends the traditional urban goals of economic stability and working infrastructure, and allows for inclusivity of its people, with a variety of economic levels, different cultures, and diverse identities.” This concept encourages democratic and civic engagement, as well as cultural and community development.

At $475 million, the Woodward's Redevelopment was one of the biggest developments in Vancouver history. The project site covers a full city block and includes four interconnected buildings with a central atrium. Built on the edge of the Downtown Eastside, the project site is several blocks from the business district and the city's historic Gastown neighbourhood, and was the original location of the Woodward's department store until it closed in 1993. Given the original Woodward's store's strong association with community activity, the design of the Woodward's Redevelopment aimed to restore the site as a neighbourhood centre with inclusive spaces for the surrounding community. Early public consultation by the City of Vancouver determined that community participants overwhelmingly saw the Woodward's site as a place for living with supportive services nearby. Consequently, the variety of program in the redevelopment includes over 500 market-rate condominiums, 200 affordable housing units, a supermarket, a drugstore, Simon Fraser University's School for Contemporary Arts, office space for the federal government and non-profit organizations, a bank, a restaurant and a rooftop day care centre. The building also includes a 30’ x 60’ photographic mural depicting the 1971 Gastown Riots by artist Stan Douglas, and display cases for sharing stories of both the neighbourhood and the former Woodward's department store. The central stair in the Woodward's atrium is a reference to an umbilical cord, acting as a symbol of the site's rebirth.

Gregory Henriquez was born in 1963 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Carleton University in 1987. In 1988, he attended the Master of Architecture Program in History and Theory at McGill University, studying under Alberto Pérez-Gómez, whose ethical approach to architecture had a creative influence on Henriquez. In 1989, he joined his father Richard Henriquez' practice, Henriquez and Partners Architects, as an associate and became a partner of the firm in 1995. He taught at the University of British Columbia's School of Architecture in the early 1990s and has served as a guest critic in various university architecture schools. His projects have won numerous awards, including the Governor General's Medal in Architecture, Design Exchange Gold Medal, Architizer A+ Awards, and the Award for Planning Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Planners. Henriquez is an elected member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and in 2007 became a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Located at West 41st Avenue and Cambie Street in Vancouver, the existing Oakridge Centre shopping mall sits upon a 28.3 acre site with 1 million square feet of retail program surrounded by parking spaces. Prior to being razed for the mall development in the 1950s, the site was originally a forested area. The upcoming 3 billion dollar redevelopment project re-introduces the site's original topography with a public park that varies between at-grade and one level above street-level; the park complements a series of towers, low-rise buildings, and mid-rise buildings. The program for the project will include almost 5.0 million square feet of residential, offices, retail, library, community centre, day care, a performing arts academy, and a live music venue.