Photos

This is the New Woodwards building in Downtown Vancouver, Gastown area. It has quite a history.

It was originally constructed in 1903 as Woodwards Department store. Created by Charles Woodward. At that time, this shopping venue was a premiere hot spot.

Woodwards trail-blazed the concept of one-stop-shopping, it included, at the time, North America's largest supermarket, men/womens fashions, household items, even travel booking.

In 1944, the signature landmark "W" which stood 25 meters high was fixed ontop of the tall building , replacing a pre war searchlight beacon. The beacon was replaced because since it could be seen from such a far distance, it was feared the building would draw attention as a landmark for ariel attacks in the war.

As suburbia grew, Woodwards became less appealing.
In the 1980's the popular food floor area, was sold to Safeway. Near the same time, the downtown area was declining socially and economically, with high drug traffic and homelessness...known today as the Vancouver Downtown EastSide - which the city is trying to clean up with new developments such as this.

In 1993, Woodwards declared bankruptcy and closed down.
The provincial government purchased the building for $22 Million dollars in 2001. Squatters (homeless people) took up recedence and demanded the building be used for social housing. Eventually, the city enforced the squatters to leave.

In 2003, the city of Vancouver purchased the building for $5 Million dollars.
It was decided that a new $400 million dollar project would be constructed. It includes, 500 plus housing units, national banks, daycare facilities, a public Atrium, civic offices, and a new addition to Simon Fraser University (SFU) campus.

The building is famous for its triangular design, its very beautiful.