Onlookers at the Vancouver Convention Centre with the background of North Vancouver, Stanley Park and Seaplanes in Canada Place Downtown Vancouver; Photo: Destination BC/Grant Harder
Vancouver is located on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Since its incorporation in 1886, the City has undergone considerable evolution, which is reflected in the many interesting buildings that are found downtown as well as in its many surrounding neighbourhoods.
Below are ten buildings to visit in the city. Curate a walking tour, marvelling at the buildings’ architecture, the areas around them, as well as the stories that make Vancouver so special.
Marine Building
Marine Building; Photo: Jamie Hedworth
One of the most striking heritage buildings in the downtown core is the soaring Marine Building (355 Burrard Street). Its distinctive Art Deco-style has made it beloved. At the site of an old mansion, the building was constructed from 1929 to 1930, and according to the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, reflected Vancouver’s then expansion as a shipping/port city. It’s now in the heart of the city’s financial district but at the time was a pathmaker in Vancouver’s growth in that industry. Today, it serves as office space, and is home to Brass Fish Tavern. Stop by the Marine Building on the way to touring Vancouver’s waterfront.
Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver Convention Centre; Destination Vancouver/Destination Canada (CTC)
Just a couple blocks from the Marine Building lies the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building, with the East Building a short walk away. The buildings reflect Vancouver’s commitment to sustainability, proudly recognized as the first double LEED Platinum certified convention centre in the world. Its sustainable innovations are considerable, such as a six-acre living roof on the West building, a marine habitat in its foundation, and a seawater heating and cooling system. Its awards include the 2017 Green Building Excellence Award for Existing Buildings by The Canada Green Building Council. Meanwhile, the East Building was constructed for Expo 86 and is part of Canada Place, which has become iconic for the white sails that greet cruise ship passengers who dock at the terminal.
Vancouver Public Library, Central Library
The oval building of the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library at Georgia and Homer; Destination Vancouver/Nelson Mouellic
When the city outgrew its old central library on Burrard Street, the Vancouver Public Library (VPL) decided to construct a new location at Library Square (350 West Georgia Street). The design of the library was put to a competition, with the public voting on their favourite. The winning design by Moshe Safdie, Richard Archambault and Barry Downs—distinctive in its reimagining of the Roman Coliseum—was completed in 1995. It’s covered in granite from Horsefly, BC, and included a sustainable green roof when first built. Since then, the library has expanded into the upper floors, which now feature a theatre, an enclosed reading room, outdoor terraces, and a rooftop garden.
Museum of Anthropology
Detailed exterior view of the Great Hall at the Museum of Anthropology at
UBC as seismic upgrades near completion, April 2024. Photo by Brannen
Bell.
The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC reopened in June of this year after undergoing seismic upgrades. The beloved building, which opened in 1967, reflects the design of renowned modernist architect Arthur Erickson, and the landscape work of Cornelia Oberlander. The concrete and glass design not only allows for light and visual access to the natural world when inside, but also stands in intentional contrast to its West Coast surroundings. The building is home to the Museum, the Laboratory of Archeology, extensive collections, and archives. The MOA showcases traditional and current Indigenous art and culture, both local and global, working hard to respect and work collaboratively with Indigenous artists and communities.
Vancouver Art Gallery
Vancouver Art Gallery; Destination Vancouver/Vision Event Photography Inc.
Construction plans are still in the works for the new Vancouver Art Gallery, which is designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and will be built at Cambie and West Georgia Street. In the meantime, the glorious old location continues, whose front plaza, over the years, has become the central meeting point of the downtown core—the site for numerous markets, cultural festivals, as well as peaceful demonstrations. The Gallery moved into its current home in 1983 when it took over the lease for a former courthouse building (750 Hornby Street). The structure, which dates back to 1906, reflects a neo-classical style, and was the design of Sir Francis Mawson Rattenbury. It was renovated under the leadership of Arthur Erickson Architects as part of a larger redevelopment that became Robson Square. The imposing steps, columns, and presiding lions of the building have become well-known in the city and beyond.
Orpheum
People walking along Granville Street in downtown Vancouver with the Orpheum Theatre; Destination Vancouver/Nelson Mouellic
Home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Orpheum is one of the city’s premier as well as long-running performance venues. Built in 1927, the Orpheum has experienced many different eras, beginning as a vaudeville house when it first opened, and then later becoming a movie theatre and now a concert venue. From its distinctive exterior sign, its sweeping staircases, gorgeous ceiling, and Romanesque and Gothic arches, the Orpheum dazzles any concert goer with its now nostalgic design. Performers like the Marx Brothers and Fred Astaire have graced its stage, with contemporary artists now regularly holding concerts at this historic space. Vancouver Civic Theatres periodically holds guided tours of the Orpheum, usually during the summer months. Check back closer to the summer to find out about tours in 2025.
Sam Kee or Jack Chow Building
Chinatown Gate. Entrance to Chinatown on Pender St (Jack Chow building on the right); Destination Vancouver/Nelson Mouellic
Vancouver’s Chinatown is the historic locus of the Chinese Canadian community, undergoing considerable change since it first emerged in 1886 on Carrall and Dupont (now Pender) Streets. Organizations like the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation have been instrumental in preserving its heritage while championing its growth and revitalization. The Sam Kee Building (8 West Pender Street) just at the gateway to Chinatown was built in 1913 and is distinctive due to its narrow depth of a mere 6 feet. It was recognized by Guinness World Records for being the shallowest commercial building. It was built by the merchant Chang Toy, known as Sam Kee, in defiance of the City that had expropriated much of his lot in order to expand a street. He made a bet that he could build on what was left of the land—and he did. The building is known for its bay windows on its second floor and shops at ground level. It is now known as the Jack Chow Building when it was purchased by Jack Chow Insurance in 1985.
Hotel Europe
Hotel Europe; Destination Vancouver/Nelson Mouellic
Gastown, known for its cobbled streets and steam clock, came to prominence in the mid to late 1800s, with the then Granville Townsite becoming incorporated as the City of Vancouver in 1886. It experienced a fire in 1886, with the residents having to rebuild all of the structures that were destroyed by the blaze. Some of the architecture that emerged remains, including the Hotel Europe (43 Powell Street). It was built from 1908 to 1909 by Italian Canadian businessman Angelo Calori who commissioned architects Parr and Fee to build on a narrow property near the steamship docks. The result is a flat iron building, modeled after the famous one in New York, which has become a symbol of the neighbourhood. According to the City of Vancouver Heritage Conservation Program, it also is an early example of Vancouver’s creativity when it comes to building design, being the first concrete frame in the city and fireproof hotel in Western Canada. After serving as a beer parlour and later falling into decline, in 1983, it was restored and transformed into affordable housing.
Science World
Aerial view of Science World and False Creek; Destination Vancouver/Science World
Although a more recent building than structures like the Hotel Europe, Science World (1455 Quebec Street) reflects Vancouver history as well. Located on False Creek, which was largely industrial for much of the 20th century, the building that now houses Science World was built as part of the construction for Expo 86, a huge turning point in the city’s evolution. During the fair, it served as the Expo Centre. Architect Bruno Freschi designed a geodesic dome-like structure (involving 766 aluminum triangles), which was initially planned as a temporary build. Once it was acquired by the non-profit Science World, the building was made into a permanent structure, one that houses permanent and temporary exhibitions, in addition to an OMNIMAX Theatre, which incorporates the dome as its “screen.”
The Lee Building
Lee Building; Photo: Mount Pleasant BIA
Downtown is not the only neighbourhood in Vancouver with unique heritage buildings. Mount Pleasant, known presently for its independent boutiques, MICHELIN-recognized eateries, and breweries, has a rich history. In 1888, a German businessman opened the Vancouver Brewery in the area, which became known as the first “suburb” beyond downtown. Important heritage buildings include the 1904 bank building (2442 Main Street), the 1892 J.F. Clarke Building (2313 Main Street), the 1915 Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street), and the Royal Bank (former)/Goh Ballet building (2345 Main Street). The Lee Building (175 East Broadway) was the tallest building in the neighbourhood when it was built in 1911 by merchant Herbert Lee, who later lost the building to the Royal Bank during the Great Depression. The brick-and-stone-facade building is now home to many different businesses, including Fable Diner, which is located on its ground floor.
Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours
While you can create your own walking tour to visit these iconic buildings, you can also sign up for a guided one. Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours provides well-researched and highly informative tours that share fascinating stories about the colourful people and places of the city’s past and present. The Forbidden Vancouver Tour takes participants into the depths of Prohibition, through the streets of Gastown and its historic buildings. Very popular at this time of year is their Lost Souls of Gastown Tour, which focuses on ghastly Victorian tales in Gastown and incorporates immersive theatrical performances.
