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

Randall Building

City of Vancouver Heritage Building

— Architect: Richard T. Perry —

Randall Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 1, 2011

1. Randall Building Marker

Inscription. Built in 1929 for the brokerage firm S.W. Randall Company, this commercial building is a good example of the design of the city's downtown office development at the time of the Great Depression. The brick cladding is enriched by the terra cotta paneling on the lower levels of the important Georgia Street facade. Sam Randall was also a thoroughbred race promoter who operated racetracks at Hastings Park in the 1920s and Lansdowne Park in Richmond (1924-45). In 1991 the building was rehabilitated and the penthouse added by the owner, Jeweller Toni Cavelti, and his architects Blewett Dowd Ching Lee.

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 1929.

Location. 49° 16.89′ N, 123° 6.98′ W. Marker is in Vancouver, British Columbia, in Greater Vancouver. It is in Central Vancouver. Marker is on West Georgia Street just west of Richards Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 555 West Georgia Street, Vancouver BC V6B 1Z5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Deutschesland Café (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); St. Regis Hotel (about 180 meters away); Power Block (approx.

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0.3 kilometers away); Hotel Georgia (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Orpheum Theatre (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); BC Permanent Building (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); 326 West Pender Street (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Hotel Vancouver (approx. 0.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vancouver.

Randall Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein

2. Randall Building and Marker

The marker can be seen here, mounted to the front of the building, just to the right of the central awning.

Randall Building - terra cotta paneling with building name image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 1, 2011

3. Randall Building - terra cotta paneling with building name

Randall Building, 1939 image. Click for full size.

Leonard Frank (image courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library), December 30, 1939

4. Randall Building, 1939

Randall Building, today image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 1, 2011

5. Randall Building, today

Note the addition of the penthouse, set back so as not to be visible from the street when facing the building. In addition, the building now sports a mural (by Kitty Mykka and Nicole Kozakiewzof) of a medieval goldsmith at his workbench, based on a 1698 copper engraving by Christopher Weigel. (Click on photo to see mural.)Thematically, the subject matter makes sense, as the rehabilitation of the building was commissioned by master jeweller Toni Cavelti.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 886 times since then and 134 times this year. Last updated on April 25, 2012, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 17, 2012, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.