The City of Vancouver has leased the entire five-storey, 77,000-square-foot building occupied by animation studio WildBrain to replace another leased office and accommodate increased in-person work.

Occupancy at 380 West 5th Avenue is expected in 2027. The city said the lease on the office being replaced is not being renewed but did not identify that property or disclose the length and financial terms of the new deal.

About 1,400 non-unionized city employees have been required to work in the office five days a week since Jan. 1. Unionized employees eligible for flexible work must come into the office at least three days a week, while many front-line employees already work on-site full time.

The city said its return-to-office requirements contributed to its space planning but were one of several factors considered.

“The primary driver for securing this lease was the need to replace expiring leased space and ensure the City has suitable, functional accommodation that supports the delivery of public services and organizational operations into the future,” the city told Connect.

A portfolio review found the city’s existing offices could not accommodate the affected employees within the required timeline or provide the necessary workplace configuration. The property is close to City Hall and will support the consolidation of employees within the broader civic campus.

WildBrain is moving to the Radia Block at 149 West 4th Avenue, where it leased approximately 46,786 square feet in the second quarter of 2025, according to brokerage reports.

The move keeps the studio in Mount Pleasant while reducing its Vancouver footprint by about 30,200 square feet, or 39 per cent. The two-storey Radia Block was previously occupied by visual-effects company DNEG and is configured for digital production work.