Article
CBRE Finds The Vancouver Foundation a Vibrant Head Office
September 9, 2026
CBRE’s Perry Gorgounis and Sarah Stanford partnered with in-house project management team Turner and Townsend to find a new head office for The Vancouver Foundation.
The Vancouver Foundation, one of British Columbia’s largest non-profit organizations and the second largest community foundation in Canada, moved to a newly built 14,500 sq. ft. space at 1075 West Georgia St. in downtown Vancouver.
“This was a highly collaborative effort between CBRE’s real estate advisory and workplace strategy teams, as well as with Turner and Townsend building out the project,” says Gorgounis.
“It took upfront work, thoughtful strategy and a creative approach with CBRE’s platform of services to align the needs of the Vancouver Foundation. The integrated work was very important to find a space solution that met their organizational goals and negotiate a deal that built trust and confidence in the relocation.”
CBRE’s Workplace Strategy team worked closely with the Vancouver Foundation to align their real estate approach with their evolving vision for how their people and space should interact.
“Their previous space wasn’t being used effectively,” notes Stanford, referring to the group’s former 14,000 sq. ft. office at 475 West Georgia St. “People were working mostly remotely, and the fragmented distribution of collaboration and social spaces within the office resulted in people feeling isolated.”
“It was an opportunity to make positive change.”
Serving The Community
The greatest challenge in finding the ideal space for The Vancouver Foundation was ensuring it aligned with the different dynamics happening within the organization, Stanford explains.
“The Vancouver Foundation works closely with the community and many other stakeholders, so it was important to think about how the space would support people both internally and externally,” she says.
“We challenged The Vancouver Foundation leadership with some tough questions: ‘How do you want to support and inspire your people? How do you want to entice them and make the space really exciting for them, as well as inviting to the broader community?’”
The Vancouver Foundation has a hybrid work model for its employees, making a significant downsizing in office space the most logical solution at the outset.
“They wanted to go from 14,000 sq. ft. to around 6,000 sq. ft. to avoid an excess of empty, isolating space,” Gorgounis says.
But CBRE quickly identified that too much space wasn’t the issue; it was how the space was being used. Determining the financial impact of various scenarios, the team found a solution that would not only enhance the work experience but also create a cost-effective outcome.
“At the end of the day, they moved into approximately the same size, higher building class and optimized space that served the non-profit community at large to 14,500 sq. ft,” says Stanford. “The greater focus was on building collaboration and community spaces that purposefully bring people together, rather than eliminating space altogether.”
The Right Fit
The Vancouver Foundation’s new office at 1075 West Georgia provides right-sized individual workspaces alongside a careful distribution of collaborative spaces and cultural connection zones that are designed to bring people together.
“The final result is a place that’s welcoming for everyone, and an environment people truly are excited to work in,” says Stanford.
The recommendations made by CBRE’s Workplace Strategy team, along with a thorough exploration of other market offerings, gave The Vancouver Foundation the confidence to move forward decisively.
“It took us all a while to figure out how to proceed best,” Gorgounis adds. “The further we got into the search and negotiation, the more clarity and trust we received along the way.”
The newly built office was delivered ahead of schedule and under budget, thanks to Turner and Townsend providing crucial budget estimates, assessing the viability of tenant improvements in short-listed properties and identifying significant savings along the way.
“This new head office will have a lasting impact on how The Vancouver Foundation engages with their staff and the rest of the community going forward,” says Gorgounis.
Recent Insights
-
CBRE partnered with Turner & Townsend to secure a collaborative 14,500 sq. ft. head office for The Vancouver Foundation in Vancouver.
-
Rebecca Pickford leads CBRE's feasibility study for a proposed hotel and conference centre near Kamloops for the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.
-
CBRE Tech Talent report highlights a resurgent Canadian tech workforce, with eight cities leading North American employment and office demand.
Stay In The Know
Subscribe today and join hundreds of professionals who get the latest blogs delivered straight to their inbox.