The Marine Building

Welcome to three fifty-five Burrard Street. Stand across the street for a moment and look up at the Marine Building. …

As we approach the main entrance, observe the sheer density of the exterior ornamentation. The architects intended the building to resemble a massive crag rising from the sea, encrusted with marine flora and fauna. …

Step through the heavy brass revolving doors and enter the grand lobby. The transition from the gray Vancouver street to this opulent, golden interior is startling. …

Walk toward the elevator bank. These are perhaps the most photographed elements of the entire building. …

Now, perform the most essential action in this building: look up. The ceiling of the lobby is a deeply recessed, molded plaster canopy painted in brilliant, polychromatic hues. …

Before we leave the lobby, seek out the alcoves containing the old, wooden phone booths. While no longer functional for their original purpose, they remain as stunning pieces of built-in furniture. …

Step back outside and look at the skyline surrounding us. Until the mid-nineteen nineties, the Marine Building remained one of the tallest, most prominent structures in this immediate area. …

Our analysis of the Marine Building concludes here on Burrard Street. We have examined the financial hubris of its creation, the stunning precision of its Art Deco ornamentation, and its enduring status amidst a rapidly…