8. The Dal Grauer Substation – Architectural Art

A highly-visible downtown landmark located on Burrard Street, B.C. Hydro’s Dal Grauer Substation is one of the great early works of the Modern movement in Vancouver, and an ‘A’-listed resource on the City of Vancouver Heritage Register.

Significance

Why is BC Hydro’s Dal Grauer Substation significant?

A highly-visible downtown landmark located on Burrard Street, B.C. Hydro’s Dal Grauer Substation is one of the great early works of the Modern movement in Vancouver, and an ‘A’-listed resource on the City of Vancouver Heritage Register.

Embodying the Modernist form-follows-function philosophy, the entire Burrard Street elevation featured a floor-to-ceiling glass and steel curtain wall that exposed electrical machinery, staircases, and other functional elements set against a backdrop of bright primary colours.

Architect Ned Pratt and artist B.C. Binning created, in essence, a three-dimensional ‘canvas’ which, when viewed through the exterior glass and steel grid, has been said to resemble a Mondrian / De Stijl painting.

In period nighttime photos, the glass exterior membrane becomes invisible, and the coloured backdrop glows with light in a celebration of electrical consumption. Notably, when the same architects were commissioned to design the adjoining B.C. Electric head office tower (1957), the design philosophy was extended to the 23-storey glass and aluminum curtain wall that, famously, radiated like a night-time beacon with all of its office lights deliberately left blazing.

Lit at night, the Dal Grauer Substation became part of the night landscape as a public showcase of future-forward art and technology on Burrard Street.

Threat

What is the threat to BC Hydro’s Dal Grauer substation?

When a transformer explosion damaged the facade, the plate glass was replaced by plexiglas panels, which rapidly became dull and semi-opaque, compromising the original design. Some of the exterior tiles have fallen off and others have been chipped. Consultants have prepared a restoration plan for the building some time ago, but the restoration work is stalled.

Although not endangered by demolition, this neglected landmark sits demoralized and obscured, a very sad remnant of its former glory as a civic icon.

History

In 1953-4 the BC Electric Company hired young architect Ned Pratt and artist B.C. (Bert) Binning to develop a light, open design for this functional structure that deeply integrated art and architecture. The head of B.C. Electric, Edward Albert ‘Dal’ Grauer, created a rare bridge between the corporate and artistic communities through his commitment to creating this functional space as public art.

At first, the west wall of the building was almost completely glazed, allowing passersby to see into the interior. However, the station has experienced several explosions, and in 1977 the original glazing was replaced with a shatterproof Plexiglas material. This substantially changed the appearance of the building, and over time it has deteriorated.

In December 17, 1999, BC Hydro received a letter from the City of Vancouver Heritage Planner confirming that City staff would recommend to council that a density bonus transferable off-site to offset heritage costs be offered in exchange for a restoration of the Burrard Street façade.
In January 2002, BC Hydro retained Busby Perkins+Will and Robert G. Lemon Architecture and Preservation to produce a Heritage Conservation Report. The report estimated the cost of restoration at $574,900.

In September 2006, BC Hydro retained Busby Perkins+Will to develop a current construction budget comparing a full heritage restoration with a bare minimum maintenance approach. The estimated cost of basic repairs was $326,300 and full heritage restoration $1,348,800.

In February 2008, Heritage Vancouver included the Dal Grauer Building on its Top Ten Endangered list and encouraged BC Hydro to restore the building in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics. In December 2008 BC Hydro placed the project on hold until at least 2010.

This significant structure continues to sit in limbo.

Position

Heritage Vancouver’s Position

Heritage Vancouver encourages BC Hydro to restore the Dal Grauer to its former glory. The restoration of this building would be a fitting contribution for B.C. Hydro to make to the people of Vancouver and a lasting legacy for one of British Columbia’s oldest corporations.

Restoring and highlighting the Dal Grauer building would complete the renewal that has taken place on this section of Burrard Street. Presently the Substation looks drab and unappealing in contrast to the Scotiabank Cinemas, the Electra Condos, the 42-storey luxury Patina condo tower and the recently restored 1940s-era YMCA building.

If the Dal Grauer building is given back its transparency and reintegrated into the community, people will once again notice and admire a unique achievement of functional architecture and public art that has been a downtown Vancouver civic icon since 1953.