Stairway to Heaven

Yev Stepanyuk and Sadie Berzins

University of Waterloo

Faculty Sponsor

Terri Meyer Boake

At the edge of Vancouver’s iconic Stanley Park, beside the serene waters of Hallelujah Point, Stairway to Heaven rises as both a beacon and a retreat. This 20-meter-tall observation tower invites visitors to ascend into a new perspective, bridging the natural beauty of Burrard Inlet, the North Shore mountains, and the dynamic skyline of the city. The design is defined by its striking structural silhouette, a diagonal box truss of architecturally-exposed steel that balances simplicity and intricacy. This form creates a bold yet harmonious presence in the landscape, emphasizing visual rhythm and structural clarity. Clad in glass panels with varying opacities, the tower plays with light and shadow, offering a sensory journey that shifts with each step. The ascent itself becomes an experience. A central staircase is paired side-by-side with a fully-accessible funicular, ensuring that all visitors can engage with the journey upward. As they ascend, the shifting translucency of the glass walls creates moments of reflection and anticipation, culminating in the panoramic reveal of the viewing platform. Rooted in its setting, Stairway to Heaven integrates seamlessly into the park’s circulation, positioned along the seawall’s accessible path. It transforms this well-loved route into a point of pause and perspective, offering not just views but an architectural moment that frames the natural and urban landscapes of Vancouver in a whole new light.