800 Smithe St, Vancouver BC • Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Overview

Vancouver Heritage Site Finder — Photo Credit: Karly Morgan

Address

800 Smithe St, Vancouver BC

Neighbourhood

Downtown

type

Commercial

Description

The Robson Square complex was designed by architect Arthur Erickson in 1973, and incorporates UBC’s main downtown site, the Law Courts, government offices and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Erickson conceptualized Robson Square as a skyscraper laid on its side. It was a unique and provocative idea that provided 1.3 million square feet of floor space, encompassing 3 city blocks.

The full complex has many water pools with three cascading waterfalls flowing through a beautiful urban garden landscape, designed by award-winning Cornelia Oberlander.

The public spaces and plaza winter ice rink have become popular community gathering places.

Source

University of British Columbia

More information

http://robsonsquare.ubc.ca/about/

Gallery

800 Smithe Street in 1981. City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 779-W07.25

Robson Square complex in 1986. City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 784-115.

Robson Square complex in 1986. City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 784-111.

Map

Law Courts and Robson Square

Directions

Directions in Google Maps

Contact

Please Share Your Stories!

Send us your stories, comments or corrections about this site.

Your Name ^*

Email ^*

Your Story ^*

If you have any images of this site, please share it with us!

Once you hit submit, an email will be sent to you to confirm that we have received your story submission. Please reply to the confirmation email with a few photos of this site!