780 Blanshard Street

Victoria, BC

780 Blanshard Street is an existing four storey heritage building located in downtown Victoria. Completed in 1950 and originally the offices of the British Columbia Power Commission, this late Art Deco building played an important role as the centre of the province’s hydropower operations. It is located on a fulcrum site between the old town and surrounding cultural and residential areas, just east of the Legislative Assembly, Empress Hotel and main tourist areas on Government Street. Situated closely to both the Harbour Air seaplane and Black Ball Ferry Line terminals, the site is centrally located within the community. The existing 46,000 sf building will be rehabilitated and renovated, and an addition of 84,444 sf will be added to the top of the building. This mixed-use residential project will take advantage of spectacular views of the City, Inner Harbour and Olympic Mountains while the massing will ensure the building functions as a landmark at the end of several important view corridors. The design will be physically and visually compatible with the existing concrete building, emphasizing the dramatic punctuations of the heritage Art Deco detailing while confidently bringing the project into the present.