Dominion Building
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The Dominion Building, sometimes known as the Dominion Bank Building (originally Dominion Trust), is a building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located on the edge of Gastown (207 West Hastings St), it was Vancouver's first steel-framed high-rise. At 53 m (175 ft), the thirteen-storey, Second Empire style building was the tallest commercial building in the British Empire upon its completion in 1910.[1] Its architect was J.S. Helyer, who is said to have died after falling off the staircase in the front of the building, though this is an urban legend.[2]
The financiers of the structure were the Counts von Alvensleben from Germany, who were active in Vancouver's financial scene at the time. It was generally held at the time that they were a front for the Kaiser's money, which carried the suggestion that the Empire's tallest building had been built by its greatest rival.
Today it is a provincially designated Class "A" heritage structure.
Owned by Newton Investments Limited, it was restored by restoration expert Read Jones Christofferson. The buildings current tenants include a film production company (Haddock), clothing designers, record labels, antiquarian booksellers, Kokoro Dance and a Mexican restaurant.
The Dominion Building sits across the street from Victory Square, site of the former provincial courthouse, which was relocated to Georgia Street in 1913. The Dominion Building was at the hub of the city's financial and legal district until that move.
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[edit] Trivia
The backside of the building (containing the emergency staircases) and Cambie Street was filmed during the streetscenes of The Neverending Story. It can be seen from Water Street.
The Dominion Building, as well as other elements of Victory Square, were filmed for scenes in an abandoned city in Battlestar Galactica.
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ City of Vancouver's plaque on the building, photo visible here
- ^ Emporis Building Database
[edit] See also
