Just a few years ago, the Opsal Steel building on East 2nd Avenue was in a decrepit state and longing for a facelift. Designed by architect T.H. Bamforth in 1918, its heavy timber construction, pitched roof and declarative exterior signage made it one of Vancouver's finest examples of turn-of-the-century industrial architecture. But it had been delisted from heritage protection in 1997, and the increasingly derelict building was under the threat of demolition for years.

Opsal Steel building in 2009, image retrieved from Google Street View

Bastion Development Corporation stepped in to partially restore the structure, proposing to flank the landmark with two condominium towers marketed under the name 'Opsal.' The photo below shows hoarding erected around the property where a Streamline Moderne building had stood at Quebec Street. 

Opsal under construction, image by Flickr user Jason V via Creative Commons

Now a brew pub and restaurant, the building's front facade was reassembled, and a new glass wall allows passersby to peer in for a glimpse of the original weathered timber trusses. The building's old cladding was reused in the interior courtyard and the signage was restored to the facade. Artifacts from the steel company, including a gantry crane and wooden casting moulds, also make an appearance. The IBI/HB Architects-designed tower, completed in 2014, contains 165 units over a 24-storey height.

Opsal, image retrieved from Google Street View

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