Strathcona Hotel
919 Douglas Street, Victoria, Colombie-Britannique, V8W, Canada
Reconnu formellement en:
1995/01/19
Autre nom(s)
Strathcona Hotel
Empress Block
Liens et documents
Date(s) de construction
1911/01/01
Inscrit au répertoire canadien:
2005/11/12
Énoncé d'importance
Description du lieu patrimonial
The Strathcona Hotel is a six storey Edwardian Commercial Style brick building located on the eastern side of Douglas Street in Victoria's commercial downtown. It is distinguished by white glazed terra cotta cladding on its street front façade.
Valeur patrimoniale
The Strathcona Hotel, constructed as the Empress Block in 1911, is of value to Victoria's historic downtown because it is an excellent example of the fine large scale commercial structures built in the City during the period of considerable development which occurred in the prosperous years leading up to the First World War.
Although this building was originally designed as an office tower, the fact that its function was changed to a hotel almost immediately after its construction reflects the shift that was steering Victoria towards a tourism based economy in the early twentieth century. The Strathcona Hotel has conducted business here since 1913, adding value to the commercial core of the City through its continuity of use.
The Chicago Style architectural design of this building by architect H.S. Griffith, characterized by decorative terra cotta cladding, a grid-like fenestration pattern of Chicago School three-part windows, and a strong protruding cornice, reflect the desired idiom of the time of its construction, meant to express the image of the modern imperial city to both locals and tourists alike.
Source: City of Victoria Planning and Development Dept.
Éléments caractéristiques
The character defining elements of the Strathcona Hotel include:
- The early twentieth century form and six storey massing, and its prominent location on Douglas Street.
- The integrity of the complete building envelope, defined by Douglas Street and a service alley behind.
- The Commercial Style elements related to its 1911 construction, including terra cotta decorative elements, the original wood windows, the grid-like fenestration pattern, three-part divided windows, and the substantial cornice.
- Recessed north and south facades.
- The combined functions of commercial space at street level, with lodging in the upper floors.
- Surviving interior spaces and design details which relate to the heritage character of its intended use as an office building and its realized use as a hotel.
Reconnaissance
Juridiction
Colombie-Britannique
Autorité de reconnaissance
Administrations locales (C.-B.)
Loi habilitante
Local Government Act, art.954
Type de reconnaissance
Répertoire du patrimoine communautaire
Date de reconnaissance
1995/01/19
Données sur l'histoire
Date(s) importantes
s/o
Thème - catégorie et type
- Économies en développement
- Commerce et affaires
Catégorie de fonction / Type de fonction
Actuelle
Historique
- Commerce / Services commerciaux
- Hôtel, motel ou auberge
Architecte / Concepteur
H.S. Griffith
Constructeur
s/o
Informations supplémentaires
Emplacement de la documentation
City of Victoria Planning and Development Dept.
Réfère à une collection
Identificateur féd./prov./terr.
DcRu-818
Statut
Édité
Inscriptions associées
s/o