Marine Building

The Marine Building is a skyscraper located at 355 Burrard Street in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. It is renowned for its Art deco details.

The brainchild of Lt. Commander J.W. Hobbs of Toronto, it was opened on 7 October 1930, and at 98m over 21 floors it was the tallest skyscraper in the city until 1939. The building cost $2.3 million to build -- $1.1 million over budget -- but due to the Great Depression it was sold to the Guinness family of Ireland for only $900,000. The 2004 property assessment is $22 million.

Inside the massive brass-doored elevators the walls are inlaid with 12 varieties of local hardwoods. All over the walls and polished brass doors are depictions of sea snails, skate, crabs, turtles, carp, scallops, seaweed and sea horses, as well as the transportation means of the era. The floor presents the zodiac signs. The exterior is studded with flora and fauna, tinted in sea-green and touched with gold.

During a renovation from 1982-1989 to update the electrical, mechanical and air-conditioning systems, the "battleship linoleum" (imported from Scotland) in the lobby was replaced with marble. The former Merchant Exchange was also gutted, and changed into a high-class Chinese restaurant. The floor was raised so that diners could take advantage of the room's huge windows.