Canada Place
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. (June 2010) |
Canada Place | |
---|---|
General information | |
Status | Complete |
Type | Convention center Cruise ship terminal |
Address | 999 Canada Place |
Town or city | Vancouver, British Columbia |
Country | Canada |
Coordinates | 49°17′19″N 123°06′40″W / 49.288635°N 123.111119°WCoordinates: 49°17′19″N 123°06′40″W / 49.288635°N 123.111119°W |
Current tenants | Vancouver Convention Centre Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver Vancouver World Trade Centre |
Construction started | March 9, 1983 |
Opening | May 2, 1986 |
Renovated | 2011 |
Cost | $400 million CAD |
Renovation cost | $21 million CAD |
Height | 81.5 metres (267 ft) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 23 |
Design and construction | |
Owner | Canada Place Corporation |
Architect | Eberhard Zeidler |
Architecture firm | Joint Venture: Zeidler Roberts Partnership, MCMP & DA Architects + Planners |
Renovating team | |
Renovating firm | Ledcor |
Website | |
www.canadaplace.ca | |
References | |
[1][2][3] |
Canada Place is a building situated on the Burrard Inlet waterfront of Vancouver, British Columbia. It is the home of the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Pan Pacific Hotel, Vancouver's World Trade Centre, and the world's first permanent IMAX 3D theatre (which ceased operation on October 1st 2009). The building's exterior is covered by fabric roofs resembling sails. [4] It is also the main cruise ship terminal for the region, where most of Vancouver's famous cruises to Alaska originate. The building was designed by architect Eberhard Zeidler in joint venture with MCMP and DA Architects + Planners.
Canada Place can be reached via the SkyTrain line at the nearby Waterfront Station terminus or via West Cordova Street in Vancouver. The white sails of the building have made it a prominent landmark for the city, as well as drawing comparisons to the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia and the Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado.
The structure was expanded in 2001 to accommodate another cruise ship berth. In 2009, a companion building immediately to the northwest was completed which, like Canada Place, contains additional Convention Centre facilities as well as served as the International Broadcast Centre for the 2010 Winter Olympics while Canada Place served as the Main Press Centre.[5]
Contents |
[edit] History
Canada Place was built on the land which was originally the Canadian Pacific Railway's Pier B-C. Built in 1927, its primary purpose was to serve CPR and other shipping lines trading across the Pacific Ocean.[2]
In 1978 Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments commenced planning for development of convention, cruise ship and hotel facilities. Four years later, the Government of Canada created a crown corporation, Canada Harbour Place Corporation (now known as Canada Place Corporation), to develop the Canada Place project on the Pier B-C site. Construction began when HM Queen Elizabeth II arrived on the royal yacht Britannia with The Right Hon. Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada and The Hon. William R. Bennett, Premier of BC to initiate the first concrete pour.
During Expo ’86, the Canada Pavilion at Canada Place was opened by HRH Prince Charles and The Right Hon. Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada. Among the largest and most elaborate pavilions presented by any nation at any World's Fair, the Canada Pavilion hosted more than 5 million visitors prior to the October 13, 1986 closing date. The Canada Pavilion is acknowledged as one of the best-ever host nation pavilions at a world exposition[citation needed].
The landmark that today is Canada Place is dedicated by the Government of Canada to the people of Canada and the world, who will visit and enjoy the many features of this unique project. Canada Place Corporation (CPC), a Crown agent, continues to act as the coordinating landlord for Canada Place facilities.
Events
Throughout the year many community events are held at and hosted by Canada Place. Some of these include:
- Canada Day at Canada Place - This multiple award-winning event features headline performers on four stages, interactive exhibitions, kid's zone, roaming entertainment and much more.
- Christmas at Canada Place - This event is a family tradition for many people in the Lower Mainland. It has been running for 23 years with guest favourites like the Woodward Windows and Breakfast with Santa.
- Sails of Light - A nightly event illuminating Canada Place’s 90 foot sails showcasing Canada. During Christmas the Sails of Light take a festive theme.
- Community Events - Events such as the well-known Vancouver International Jazz Festival to free yoga sessions on the promenade take place throughout various times of the year.
[edit] References
- ^ "Our History". Canada Place Corporation. http://www.canadaplace.ca/Our_Story/Our_History. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ a b "Canada Place". Pacific Northwest Architecture. Artefaqs Corporation. http://www.pnwarchitecture.com/Printer.php?ID=61&CL=fr. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ "Federal stimulus fund to cover cost of Canada Place roof upgrade". The Vancouver Sun. CanWest. November 30, 2009. http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=958b111e-d809-4195-a094-9554ba997e9e. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ^ Pound, Richard W. (2005). 'Fitzhenry and Whiteside Book of Canadian Facts and Dates'. Fitzhenry and Whiteside.
- ^ "Highlights of the week". International Olympic Committee. January 15, 2010. http://www.olympic.org/media?articleid=76012. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canada Place, Vancouver |