1920 – Union Bank, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The building was acquired by the Bank of Toronto after the absorption of the Union Bank by the Royal Bank of Canada in 1925. It become the B.C. head office of the bank in 1955, remaining as such for 29 years before closing its doors in 1984. 
Now part of the downtown campus of SFU and known as Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue.

“A handsome addition to Vancouver’s many fine buildings is the new Union Bank Building recently completed at the corner of Seymour and Hastings Streets. Standing as it does on one of the city’s busiest corners, its chaste lines and solid simplicity reflect the pride of both the officers of the institution and the citizens of Vancouver in its construction….

The building was designed by the firm of Somervell & Putnam architects, and provides every modern facility for conducting an up-to-the-minute banking business, and every comfort and convenience for the patrons. The Italian Renaissance style of architecture was adopted by the architects best befitting the dignity and character becoming a banking institution. Italian Renaissance motifs and the Riccardo and Strozzi palaces and other classic examples of the Renaissance were adopted in the exterior and interior ornamentation. The exterior of the building is executed in Haddington Island stone carved after models made by Mr. C. Marega, the local sculptor.”
Engineering and Contract Record, January 2, 1921

“The new premises of the Union Bank at Vancouver, illustrated herewith, is a notable acquisition to the several fine buildings which this institution has erected in the past few years, and serves as its head office in the Pacific Coast district. The building, which is of Italian Renaissance design, is three storeys high and of reinforced concrete construction. The exterior is faced with Haddington Island stone, a durable native product, the stone carving and Bronze work shown in detail in the accompanying views being particularly worthy of note.

On the interior, the main floor chiefly resolves itself into one large banking room, which is entirely free from any pillars or obstructing columns. This room has a 32-foot ceiling, and is finished in Caen stone. The counters and fittings are of Hondurus mahogany, bronze and marble. The ceiling is richly decorated with plaster ornament and is finished below with a medallion designed freize. On the mezzanine floor the space is divided into a directors’ room, superintendent’s office, janitor’s room and women’s rest room. The electrical installation includes an inter-phone system connecting the various departments, and a dictograph and messenger call service. The large banking vault and safety deposit boxes are situated in the basement and are equipped with the latest protective devices.

The complete cost of the building was in the neighborhood of $500,000. The architects were Somerville & Putnam, and the details were drawn by Mr. Harold H. Ginnold, their local manager, the stone carvings being executed from full size models in staff made by Mr. C. Marega, a well-known Vancouver sculptor, who was also responsible for the models for the bronze metal work and the execution of the interior wood carving.”
Construction, July 1921

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