Vancouver Filipino Cultural Centre Proposal Moves to New 10-Storey Building in Mount Pleasant

Developer PortLiving and the Filipino Legacy Society have announced a revised proposal for a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre at 160 East 2nd Ave. in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant, with about 45,000 sq. ft. of cultural space inside a 10-storey mixed-use hotel building and construction targeted for 2027.

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The proposal for a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre in Vancouver has moved to a new site. Local developer PortLiving and the non-profit Filipino Legacy Society are advancing a revised proposal to redevelop 160 East 2nd Ave. in Mount Pleasant into a new 10-storey, mixed-use building with hotel and cultural centre uses, Daily Hive reported on 15 October 2026.

Designed by Formosis Architecture, the cultural centre would span approximately 45,000 sq. ft. across five levels, according to Daily Hive. It would feature exhibition galleries, classrooms, art spaces, meeting rooms and a double-height event hall, plus a cultural cafe and a landscaped rooftop for community gatherings. Three floors of hotel rooms, one floor of office space and some creative or light industrial space would provide an ongoing source of revenue for the centre.

The previous concept at 1940 Main St. placed a 60,000 sq. ft. cultural centre across the first six levels of a 30-storey, mixed-use hotel tower. The proponents now describe the East 2nd Avenue centre as the first major component of a broader Main Street Campus dedicated to the Filipino community's culture and heritage.

"This project responds to community and government feedback, providing the Filipino Canadians with a standalone world-class centre, powered by an endowment that will ensure its operational stability for future generations," said Warren Dean Flandez of the Filipino Legacy Society. PortLiving founder and CEO Tobi Reyes said: "For years, the Filipino community has envisioned a permanent cultural home in Vancouver. At 160 East 2nd, we have an opportunity to turn that vision into something tangible."

Both the BC NDP and the Conservative Party of British Columbia have promised $15 million toward a Filipino Cultural Centre, but neither commitment has been tied to a specific site, Daily Hive and the Asian Pacific Post reported. PortLiving is targeting a 2027 construction start, subject to municipal approvals, funding, governance arrangements and further community consultation, the Asian Pacific Post reported.