Central Vancouver in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

BC Permanent Building

City of Vancouver Heritage Building

— Architects: Hooper and Watkins —

BC Permanent Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 1, 2011

1. BC Permanent Building Marker

Inscription. This small scale but well-executed example of Beaux-Arts classicism was designed by Thomas Hooper (the architect of Shaughnessy's Hycroft Mansion) and Elwood Watkins. Built in 1907 for Thomas Talton Langlois' BC Permanent Loan Company, after 1935 it housed offices of the Bank of Canada. The impressive open interior features a large Tiffany-style stained glass dome, mosaic tile floors, and a series of fine windows displaying the Yukon, Great Britain and eight provincial coats-of-arms. After new owners acquired the building in 1979 and made interior alterations, it became known as Page House.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the City of Vancouver Heritage Building series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 49° 16.945′ N, 123° 6.694′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Greater Vancouver. It is in Central Vancouver. Marker is on West Pender Street near Hamilton Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 330 West Pender Street, Vancouver BC V6B 1T1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 326 West Pender Street (a few steps from this marker); Here Stood Hamilton (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Dominion Building

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(about 120 meters away); Flack Block (about 150 meters away); Taylor Building (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Edward Hotel (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Greenshields Building (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Gastown (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vancouver.

Also see . . . B.C. Permanent Building. HistoricPlaces.ca's page for the BC Permanent Building. On the structure's heritage value: "...Significant as an excellent example of Neoclassical Revival, temple form design, the B.C. Permanent Building has survived relatively unaltered, retaining a high level of integrity. Built in 1907, the building is stylistically important for its strong, English Palladian style inspiration as seen in the rusticated stone facade, Diocletian window, voussoir entrance, classically detailed portico, and finely-proportioned symmetrical design. The columns, pilasters and large windows of the building express a sense of monumentality that belies its relatively small scale. The overall effect of the building projects conservatism, permanence and security." (Submitted on April 15, 2012.)

Permanent not: It used to say "B.C. Permanent Bldg." (see next photo) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2010

2. Permanent not: It used to say "B.C. Permanent Bldg." (see next photo)

BC Permanent Building (historical photo) image. Click for full size.

Unknown, image courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library, circa 1909/19

3. BC Permanent Building (historical photo)

March 11 [1935] The Bank of Canada was founded. Its first home in Vancouver was in Page House at 330 West Pender Street, famous for its stained-glass ceiling. “Back then,” Robin Ajello has written, “bank robberies were a popular craze, so the bank had a machine gun installed to defend the enlarged vault that at one time held all of the bank's B.C. assets. Cash was safely lugged in and out along a since-walled-off tunnel that ran underground to West Hastings Street.” - from The History of Metropolitan Vancouver, by Chuck Davis, 2011.

BC Permanent Building today image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2010

4. BC Permanent Building today

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 15, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 844 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 15, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.