List of tallest buildings in Vancouver
Encyclopedia
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
is the largest city in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and the third largest metropolis in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In Vancouver, there are 42 buildings that stand taller than 100 metres (328 ft). The tallest building in the city is the 62-storey
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
, 201 m (659 ft) Living Shangri-La. Although this skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
far exceeds Downtown Vancouver's strict height limits, the building represents the city's efforts to add visual interest into Vancouver's skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
. The second-tallest building in the city is One Wall Centre
One Wall Centre
One Wall Centre, also known as the Sheraton Wall Centre - North Tower, is currently the second-tallest completed building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The skyscraper is located at a high point on the downtown peninsula of Vancouver and its address is 1088 Burrard Street.One Wall Centre...
, standing at 150 m (492 ft) tall with 48 storeys. One Wall Centre has the distinction of being the first building in the world to use a tuned liquid column damper to control wind vibrations. The city of Vancouver is currently, as of February 2011, undergoing a debate as to increase height restrictions in specific corridors of the downtown peninsula. If this objective goes through, Vancouver could see a future with many more iconic structures.
Vancouver's history of skyscrapers began with the Dominion Building
Dominion Building
The Dominion Building , is a commercial building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located on the edge of Gastown , it was Vancouver's first steel-framed high-rise. At 53 m , the thirteen-storey, Second Empire style building was the tallest commercial building in the British Empire upon its...
(1909), the Sun Tower
Sun Tower
The Sun Tower is a 17 storey Beaux-Arts building at 100 West Pender Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is known for its faux-patina steel dome painted to imitate copper cladding. Nine nude muses, the "nine maidens" supporting the cornice line can be seen...
(1911), the Vancouver Block, the second Hotel Vancouver (1916) and the Marine Building
Marine Building
The Marine Building is a skyscraper located at 355 Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada near the Financial District, designed by McCarter Nairne and Partners. It is renowned for its Art Deco details....
(1929). The third Hotel Vancouver was completed in 1939 at 111 m (364 ft) tall, and was the first building to have stood taller than 100 m (328 ft) in the city. Building construction remained slow in the city until the late 1960s, other than the completion of the new BC Hydro
BC Hydro
The BC Hydro and Power Authority is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia generally known simply as BC Hydro. It is the main electric distributor, serving 1.8 million customers in most areas, with the exception of the Kootenay region, where FortisBC, a subsidiary of Fortis...
headquarters (today the Electra condominiums). From 1968 to 1981, Vancouver witnessed a major expansion of skyscraper and high-rise construction. Many of the city's office towers were completed during this period, such as the Harbour Centre
Harbour Centre
Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The "Lookout" tower atop the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a prominent landmark on the city's skyline...
and the Royal Centre
Royal Centre (Vancouver)
Royal Centre is a prominent signature skyscraper complex located at 1055 West Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver's Financial District. The primary tenant of the complex is RBC's British Columbia headquarters...
office towers. A ten-year lull in building construction came after the expansion, though Vancouver experienced a larger second building expansion beginning in 1991 and continuing into the present. As part of the city's push for liveable high-density areas (called Vancouverism
Vancouverism
Vancouverism is an urban planning and architectural technique pioneered in Vancouver, Canada. It is characterized by mixed-use developments, typically with a medium-height, commercial base and narrow, high-rise residential towers to accommodate high populations and to preserve view...
by planning theorists), many mixed-use and residential buildings were built, such as Concord Pacific Place, the largest master-planned residential complex in North America. One Wall Centre and Living Shangri-La were the city's first buildings to break the 150 m (492 ft) and 200 m (656 ft) marks, respectively. As a result of Vancouver's two building expansions, the city's population density is the 4th-highest in North America and the city has more residential high-rises per capita than any other city on the continent. , the city contains 43 skyscrapers over 100 m (328 ft) and 634 high-rise buildings that exceed 35 m (115 ft) in height.
The tallest development that is under construction in Vancouver is The Private Residences at Hotel Georgia. At 157 m (515 ft) and 48 stories, the building is expected to become the second-tallest in the city. , there are 58 high-rises under construction, approved for construction, and proposed for construction in Vancouver.
Tallest buildings
This list ranks Vancouver skyscrapers that stand at least 100 m (328 ft) tall, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts.| Rank | Name | Image | Height m / ft |
Floors | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Living Shangri-La | 201 / 659 | 62 | 2008 | This is the twentieth-tallest building in Canada. This is the tallest building in the city and British Columbia. | |
| 2 | Harbour Centre Harbour Centre Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The "Lookout" tower atop the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a prominent landmark on the city's skyline... |
 |
168.6 / 533 | 45 | 1977 | This is the tallest office building in the city. |
| 3 | One Wall Centre One Wall Centre One Wall Centre, also known as the Sheraton Wall Centre - North Tower, is currently the second-tallest completed building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The skyscraper is located at a high point on the downtown peninsula of Vancouver and its address is 1088 Burrard Street.One Wall Centre... |
 |
150 / 491 | 48 | 2001 | This building is also known as the Sheraton Wall Centre. |
| 4 | Shaw Tower Shaw Tower (Vancouver) Shaw Tower located at 1067 W. Cordova St in Downtown Vancouver's Coal Harbour is home to Shaw Communications' headquarters for Lower Mainland Operations and credited to local architect James K. M. Cheng.... |
149 / 489 | 41 | 2004 | ||
| 5 | Royal Centre Royal Centre (Vancouver) Royal Centre is a prominent signature skyscraper complex located at 1055 West Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver's Financial District. The primary tenant of the complex is RBC's British Columbia headquarters... |
141 / 464 | 37 | 1973 | This building is also known as the RBC Tower or Royal Bank Tower. | |
| 6 | The Melville The Melville The Melville is a skyscraper located at 1189 Mellvile Street in Downtown Vancouver's Coal Harbour neighbourhood. The tower stands at 122 m, or 42 storeys tall, to the top of the main roof, a reported 141 m to the top of the glass "sail", and has 232 suites. The building was built in 2007 and is the... |
141 / 461 | 43 | 2007 | ||
| 7 | Bentall 5 Bentall 5 Bentall 5 or Five Bentall Centre is a 35-floor skyscraper located at 550 Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Part of the Bentall Centre complex, it stands at , making it the 8th-tallest building in the city... |
140 / 460 | 34 | 2007 | ||
| 8 | Park Place Park Place (Vancouver) Park Place is a signature skyscraper located at 666 Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver's Financial District.Park Place has 35 storeys, and was completed in 1984. It stands at 140 m and is one of the tallest buildings in the city. Although the tower only uses 35% of the site, at 698,000 ft² it is... |
140 / 459 | 35 | 1984 | ||
| 9 | The Fairmont Pacific Rim The Fairmont Pacific Rim Fairmont Pacific Rim is an upscale hotel and condominium building in Vancouver, British Columbia. It stands at 140 m or 48 storeys tall and was completed just prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics.... |
140 / 458 | 44 | 2010 | ||
| 10= | Granville Square Granville Square Granville Square is a prominent tower located at 200 Granville Street in Downtown Vancouver's Financial District. Completed in 1973, it stands at 142 m or 30 storeys high, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city... |
138 / 454 | 30 | 1973 | This building is also known as 200 Granville Square. | |
| 10= | Four Bentall Centre |  |
138 / 454 | 35 | 1981 | |
| 12 | Scotia Tower Scotia Tower Scotia Tower is a prominent skyscraper located at 650 West Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver.The 12th tallest building in the city, it stands at 138 m or 34 storeys tall and completed in 1977 and is a landmark skyscraper near the end of the central business district... |
138 / 452 | 34 | 1977 | ||
| 13 | TD Tower TD Tower (Vancouver) TD Tower is located at 700 West Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver and is connected to part of the Pacific Centre shopping mall.The skyscraper stands at 127 m or 30 stories tall and was completed in 1972... |
 |
127 / 417 | 30 | 1972 | This building is also known as the Toronto Dominion Tower. |
| 14= | Patina | 126 / 418 | 42 | 2011 | ||
| 14= | Capitol Residences | 126 / 414 | 42 | 2010 | ||
| 15 | W-43 Woodward's building The Woodward's building was a historic building in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The original portion of the building was constructed in 1903 for the Woodward's Department Store when that area of Cordova Street was the heart of Vancouver's retail shopping district. ... |
125 / 411 | 40 | 2009 | This building is also known as the W Building. | |
| 16 | Three Bentall Centre |  |
122 / 400 | 32 | 1974 | This building is also known as the Bank of Montreal Tower. |
| 17 | Empire Landmark Hotel Empire Landmark Hotel Empire Landmark Hotel, often still referred to by its original name, the Sheraton Landmark, is the tallest free standing hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada... |
121 / 396 | 42 | 1973 | This building is the tallest free standing hotel in the city. This building is often referred to by its original name, the Sheraton Landmark. | |
| 18 | Jameson House | 119 / 381 | 38 | 2011 | ||
| 19 | The Ritz | 118 / 388 | 37 | 2008 | ||
| 20 | West One | 117 / 384 | 38 | 2002 | This building is also known as Beach Crescent - West One. | |
| 21 | Cathedral Place | 116 / 382 | 23 | 1991 | ||
| 22 | West Pender Place 1 | 113 / 370 | 36 | 2011 | ||
| 23 | Hotel Vancouver | |
111 / 363 | 17 | 1939 | |
| 24= | Venus | 109 / 359 | 34 | 2000 | ||
| 24= | Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hyatt Regency Vancouver The Hyatt Regency Vancouver, located at 655 Burrard Street, is a 644 room hotel connected to the Royal Centre complex in Vancouver, British Columbia... |
109 / 359 | 35 | 1973 | This building is also known as the Hyatt Regency Hotel. | |
| 25 | Marriott Pinnacle Hotel | 109 / 357 | 35 | 2000 | ||
| 26 | Residences on Georgia | 108 / 354 | 36 | 1998 | ||
| 27= | The Pinnacle | 106 / 348 | 36 | 1996 | ||
| 27= | Callisto | 106 / 348 | 35 | 2004 | ||
| 27= | Residences on Georgia | 106 / 348 | 36 | 1998 | ||
| 27= | Dolce | 106 / 348 | 31 | 2010 | ||
| 30 | Two Harbour Green | 105 / 345 | 31 | 2008 | ||
| 31= | 1177 West Hastings | 104 / 342 | 27 | 1968 | ||
| 31= | Oceanic Plaza | 104 / 342 | 26 | 1977 | ||
| 33 | 1075 West Georgia | 104 / 340 | 27 | 1968 | ||
| 34= | Landmark 33 | 103 / 338 | 35 | 1998 | This building is also known as Marina Pointe - Landmark 33. | |
| 34= | QuayWest Tower I | 103 / 338 | 35 | 2002 | This building is also known as Marina Crescent - QuayWest I. | |
| 36 | Elan | 103 / 337 | 34 | 2008 | ||
| 37 | Sheraton Wall Centre Hotel | 102 / 335 | 35 | 1994 | ||
| 38 | Terasen Centre | 101 / 332 | 24 | 1992 | ||
| 39= | Paris Place | 101 / 330 | 33 | 1995 | ||
| 39= | HSBC Building HSBC Canada Building The HSBC Canada Building is a 23-storey office tower in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. It is located at 885 West Georgia Street. It houses HSBC Canada's headquarters. The skyscraper was originally built, on the site of the former Hotel Devonshire, as the headquarters of the Bank of British... |
 |
101 / 330 | 23 | 1987 | |
| 41= | Canaccord Tower | 100 / 329 | 24 | 1981 | This building is also known as Canaccord Place. | |
| 41= | Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites | 100 / 329 | 32 | 1969 | ||
| 43= | Carmana Plaza | 100 / 328 | 34 | 1999 | ||
| 43= | Guinness Tower | 100 / 328 | 25 | 1969 | ||
Indicates buildings that have the same rank because they have the same height.
Tallest under construction, approved and proposed
This lists skyscrapers that are under construction, approved or proposed in Vancouver and planned to rise over 100 m (328 ft) tall, but are not yet completed structures. there are 6 buildings under construction and 52 planned.| Name | Height m / ft |
Floors | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Private Residences at Hotel Georgia Hotel Georgia (Vancouver) Hotel Georgia is a historic hotel located at 801 West Georgia street in Downtown Vancouver. It was opened on May 7, 1927, as a 12 story building. The architects were Robert T. Garrow and John Graham, Sr.... |
157 / 517 | 48 | 2011 | Upon completion, this building will become the second tallest in Vancouver and all of British Columbia. |
| The Mark | 123 / 405 | 41 | 2012 | |
| Three Harbour Green | 116 / 380 | 32 | 2012 | |
| Name | Height m / ft |
Floors | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritz-Carlton Vancouver Ritz-Carlton Vancouver The Ritz-Carlton Vancouver was a planned skyscraper to be built in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The 58-storey, 183-metre-high , mixed-use tower would have been located at 1133 West Georgia Street, and was scheduled to be completed in 2011... |
188 / 616 | 67 | 2014 | This project has been reactivated and has undergone a design change, which was approved by the City of Vancouver. |
| The Sovereign | 156 / 512 | 45 | 2014 | Soon to be the tallest building in Burnaby, and when complete, the third tallest building in Metro Vancouver and all of British Columbia. |
| 1021 West Hastings | 144 / 469 | 36 | 2013 | Seeking Platinum LEED certification, definitely will be Gold LEED at least. |
| Metroplace | 141 / 462 | 46 | 2014 | To be the second tallest in Burnaby and one of top 15 in Metro Vancouver when complete. |
| Salt | 100 / 327 | 33 | 2013 | |
| Name | Height m / ft |
Floors | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Burrard Gateway I | 163 / 535 | 48 | 2014 | If approved, this project could have a drastic effect on the building height restriction laws throughout downtown Vancouver. |
| Telus Garden - Residential | 143 / 459 | 43 | 2014 | Seeking gold LEED certification as part of the new downtown Telus headquarters project. |
| Maddox | 130 / 426 | 37 | 2014 | |
| Marine Gateway | 128 / 420 | 35 | N/A | |
| The Burrard Gateway II | 121 / 397 | 36 | 2014 | Project pending public approval. |
| Rogers Arena East Tower | 105 / 343 | 23 | 2013 | |
| Rogers Arena West Tower | 105 / 343 | 23 | 2014 | |
| Rogers Arena South Tower | 102 / 334 | 22 | 2014 | |
| Creekside Park I | 101 / 330 | 33 | 2011 | |
| 1304 Howe | 100 / 327 | 30 | N/A | |
| Telus Garden - Office | 100 m (328.1 ft) | 22 | 2014 | To become one of the first Platinum LEED certified major projects in the world. One of the most environmentally friendly construction projects currently fully conceived. |
Timeline of tallest buildings
This is a list of buildings that in the past held the title of tallest building in Vancouver. The Dominon Building was the tallest building in the British EmpireBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
upon its completion.
| Name | Image | Street address | Years as tallest | Height m / ft |
Floors | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Building | 515 W. Hastings St. | 1900–1910 | 10 | |||
| Dominion Building Dominion Building The Dominion Building , is a commercial building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Located on the edge of Gastown , it was Vancouver's first steel-framed high-rise. At 53 m , the thirteen-storey, Second Empire style building was the tallest commercial building in the British Empire upon its... |
 |
207 W. Hastings St. | 1910–1912 | 14 | ||
| Sun Tower Sun Tower The Sun Tower is a 17 storey Beaux-Arts building at 100 West Pender Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is known for its faux-patina steel dome painted to imitate copper cladding. Nine nude muses, the "nine maidens" supporting the cornice line can be seen... |
100 W. Pender St. | 1912–1914 | 17 | |||
| Marine Building Marine Building The Marine Building is a skyscraper located at 355 Burrard Street in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada near the Financial District, designed by McCarter Nairne and Partners. It is renowned for its Art Deco details.... |
355 Burrard St. | 1930–1939 | 21 | |||
| Hotel Vancouver | |
900 W. Georgia St. | 1939–1972 | 111 / 364 | 17 | |
| TD Tower TD Tower (Vancouver) TD Tower is located at 700 West Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver and is connected to part of the Pacific Centre shopping mall.The skyscraper stands at 127 m or 30 stories tall and was completed in 1972... |
|
700 W. Georgia St. | 1972–1973 | 127 / 417 | 30 | |
| Royal Centre Royal Centre (Vancouver) Royal Centre is a prominent signature skyscraper complex located at 1055 West Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver's Financial District. The primary tenant of the complex is RBC's British Columbia headquarters... |
1055 W. Georgia St. | 1973–1977 | 141 / 464 | 37 | ||
| Harbour Centre Harbour Centre Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The "Lookout" tower atop the office building makes it one of the tallest structures in Vancouver and a prominent landmark on the city's skyline... |
|
555 W. Hastings St. | 1977–2001 | 146 / 481 | 28 | |
| One Wall Centre One Wall Centre One Wall Centre, also known as the Sheraton Wall Centre - North Tower, is currently the second-tallest completed building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The skyscraper is located at a high point on the downtown peninsula of Vancouver and its address is 1088 Burrard Street.One Wall Centre... |
|
1000 Burrard St. | 2001–2008 | 150 / 491 | 48 | |
| Living Shangri-La | 1120 W. Georgia St. | 2008–present | 201 / 659 | 62 | ||
See also
External links
- Diagram of Vancouver skyscrapers on SkyscraperPage