In the course of our daily reporting, we often uncover unusual projects, places, or connections that don't make the final cut. Instead of keeping it to ourselves, we're pleased to share our Architrivia.

Of the multiple new commercial office towers that have joined the skyline over the past decade, the 2007-built Centrium Place may be one of the most inconspicuous. Its relatively compact floor plates and modest height preclude the building from becoming an instant landmark in the cityscape, but some strategic exterior design moves turn an otherwise by-the-numbers facade into an artist's canvas.

The notched corner and glazed facade of Centrium Place, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

The 15-storey office tower at 332 6th Avenue SW features a glass-enclosed, two-storey lobby, above which lies notched corners that are illuminated at night. The unique lighting scheme highlights the bracing pattern of the inset corners and the sloping angles of the facade. With a top wider than its bottom, the sculptured tower gets the most out of its air space.

Centrium Place, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

Rather than instituting a uniform material expression on each elevation, Gibbs Gage Architects set out to implement a disparate network of rectilinear mullions and multicoloured glass, creating a geometric pattern that evokes the famous paintings of Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. 

Centrium Place at night, image by Forum contributor Surrealplaces

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