Lee Building

The Lee Building was designed in 1911-1912 by architects Stroud and Keith, and Arthur J. Bird, and was constructed by Coughlin and Sons. The seven storey building was, at the time, the tallest structure south of False Creek.

The owner, Herbert Oliver Lee (H.O. Lee) erected this building on the site of his former grocery store. H.O. Lee established a trend by blending office, commericial, and residential uses. Originally the building consisted of 6 commercial shops, numerous offices and 21 apartments. It is a steel-framed building.

In late 1993, new owners took possession of the Lee Building under a tenants in common agreement. Since then, the building has had the roof repaired, a new boiler installed, the elevator repaired, the hall floors resurfaced, halls and doors painted in heritage colours, the entrance painted in heritage colours and the marble walls cleaned, the stairs recovered and the banister redone.

The Lee Building is typical example of Edwardian architecture, inspired by classical architecture and divided, like a classical column, into a base, shaft and capital. In the 1950s, the shops on the first floor of the building were pushed back to accommodate the widening of Broadway, which took away the sidewalk in front of the building.

In 2002, the Lee Building received a Mount Pleasant Legacy Award for its significant contribution to the historic legacy of the area.

Source

VHF's Places That Matter plaque project, Changing Vancouver blog, Larry Zelmer

More information

https://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/the-lee-building-broadway-and-main/