The Vernon Building

The Vernon Building, listed as a Category "C" building on the Vancouver Heritage Register, was designed by notable Vancouver architects Townley and Matheson, who also designed Vancouver City Hall. The site is zoned C-2, which encourages dwelling uses designed compatibly with commercial uses. The existing two-storey commercial building is currently being converted to a five-storey mixed-use building, with three storeys of residential on top. The original heritage facade will be retained through seismic upgrades and sensitive reconstruction, while the upper three floors will be recessed and distinct in style and materials in order to retain the prominence of the heritage facade. This approach to conservation represents a compromise between demolition and pure conservation -- the latter being almost impossible to achieve due to the extent of structural deterioration and the extremely high cost of restoration. Adaptive re-use, in conjunction with sensitive infill will satisfy multiple objectives, including: retention of the existing facade; incorporating added density in order to compensate for the cost of retention; and accommodating new uses within a dense urban fabric. In return for legal designation of the Vernon Building, relaxations to floor space, parking and setbacks were given.