Description of Historic Place

The Victoria Conservatory of Music is a Richardsonian Romanesque building on the corner of Quadra and Pandora Streets.

Heritage Value

The Victoria Conservatory of Music is valued for its atypical architectural style, and its excellent quality of design. Designed by architect Thomas Hooper in 1890, this building is representative of its original function as Metropolitan Methodist Church. Intended to comply with the historic Nonconformist standing of the Methodist Church, the rusticated appearance of heavy stone cladding and accentuated tower elements distinguish this building from all other religious structures in the city. As the first building and only church in Victoria designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style, this church reflects the height of North American architectural fashion at the time of its construction. This massive free-standing building is one of the most significant and outstanding historic architectural landmarks outside of the Old Town District.

The interior architecture of this building is one of its key distinguishing features. Constructed following the standard Methodist amphitheatre plan, the sanctuary with its horseshoe-shaped gallery possesses numerous physical examples of superior craftsmanship: cast iron elements, stained glass windows, and decorative woodwork.

Source: City of Victoria Planning and Development Department

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Victoria Conservatory of Music include:
- the prominent location of this free-standing building at the corner of Quadra and Pandora Streets;
- the Richardsonian Romanesque Style elements which act as distinguishing features, such as rusticated stone cladding, accentuated lead clad towers and turrets, recessed arched windows and doorways, and the slate roof;
- key interior features relating to Thomas Hooper's design, found in spatial configurations, stained glass windows, cast iron piers and decorative elements, and authentic woodwork and paneling;
- the organ and organ pipes in the sanctuary;
- evidence of the original stencil finish in the interior of the organ loft;
- original pews in the sanctuary.