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Vancouver's first steel-framed highrise came at a time of unprecedented growth. The 13-storey Dominion Building employed a Beaux-Arts idiom that belied its innovative internal structure of steel and concrete, differing from the heavy stone construction that had been used around the turn of the century. A plethora of modern buildings erupted around Courthouse Square, now Victory Square, creating a new cluster of commercial structures that collectively presented an aura of prestige.
When the Imperial Trust Company was only able to raise half of the estimated $600,000 cost of the building, they appealed to the citizenry, calling on the public to invest in a "building [that] will be a landmark in the city, and object of pride to every loyal citizen." When Vancouverites failed to adequately respond, the firm then merged with the Dominion Trust Company, which took over ownership of the building.
Architect J.S. Helyder designed the Dominion Building with a number of flourishes that included classical columns, terracotta spandrel and a curved mansard roof. Inside, the flatiron building's central core was punctuated by a ten-storey spiral staircase. The distinctive feature had the unintended impact of discouraging prospective tenants, who scoffed at the inefficiency of the office space. When the building was completed in 1910, it became the tallest in the British Empire, until the rise of the Sun Tower a few years later.
The Dominion Trust Company collapsed when the fortunes of the real estate boom expired, leaving the institution to sell the building to the Dominion Bank. It was purchased in 1943 by S.J. Cohen, president of the Army and Navy Department Stores, who had plans to convert the building into a large retail outlet. The plans never materialized.
Today, the heritage building houses a range of companies and non-profit organizations, plus a jewellery shop, arts store, and Lebanese restaurant. Its continued presence on the edge of Gastown has solidified its role as one of Vancouver's architectural beacons.
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