Catholic Charities Hostel

The building was built in 1928 and added to in 1947. The architects were McCarter Nairne, who designed the Marine Building. The original occupant of this building was the Northern Electric Company. In 1958, the building was purchased by the Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for use as their Catholic Centre, containing offices and the Catholic Men’s Hostel.

The building’s style is commercial vernacular design with Art Moderne / Classical motifs at the entrance. Details include: simple cornice with articulated parapet at both ends of building, concrete fluted pilasters on first floor, a regular pattern of metal framed windows with stone sills and lintels, concrete sills and headers, wire cut brick veneer, granite at the foundation and a modernist board formed concrete banding on 1947 addition.

The building is of heritage value as part of an urban block of similarly scaled buildings in downtown Vancouver, the legacy of an early telecommunications company and an early example of repurposing of an existing building. In 2018, the City of Vancouver approved a redevelopment plan, designed by GBL Architects, which will combine 150 Robson with the adjacent vacant corner lot into a mixed-use building including retail, restaurants, a hotel and residential. Only the brick facade of 150 Robson will remain, and a 29 storey tower will extend upwards from it.

Source

Vancouver Heritage Resource Inventory, Statement of Significance prepared August 2012

More information

http://rcav.org/mens-hostel/