Former Health Centre for Children

Designed by Townley and Matteson and built in 1944, the former Health Centre for Children is part of a group of hospital buildings belonging to Vancouver Coastal Health.

The Moderne style, an architectural movement in the first half of the 20th century was based on the rise of new construction technologies such as glass, steel and reinforced concrete and the desire to breakaway from the neoclassical architecture of the past century. This streamline look became the dominant architectural style for institutional and corporate buildings in the post-war era up until the 1980s.

711 W 12th Avenue is a four-storey concrete structure with horizontal and vertical banding, glass block walls in stairwells, a prominent and decorative inset entry.

Source

The Story of Architecture of the 20th Century, Tietz, J.1999.