Vancouver Station: Restored!

One of the most interesting and largest-scale capital investment projects was a full restoration of the Vancouver Station building envelope. From top to bottom, the framework of the station was re-jointed, de-moulded, equipped with new windows and properly sealed against the elements… in short: spiffed up!

A Brief History of Vancouver Station

With work completed in 1919, Vancouver station was designed in the grand Beaux-Arts style by architects Pratt & Ross. It is characterized by symmetry, monumentality and the use of classical features in design, massing and details.

The envelope is built from locally-sourced materials including: granite, brick and andesite, a volcanic stone from a quarry on Haddington Island off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.

The signage on the building has evolved, and its first appearance (as “Canadian National”) in 1932 was one of the earliest examples of neon signage in Vancouver. This sign was replaced by the current “Pacific Central” in 1993, which reflects the change in use of the Station while reinforcing its historical associations.

Not surprisingly, Vancouver Station was designated a Heritage Railway Station by the Federal Government in 1991 under the Heritage Railways Stations Protection Act.

Restoration

Due to normal wear and tear, Vancouver Station’s envelope was long due for a full refurbishment. The landmark was showing signs of water penetration and decay including mould and moss growing on the skin of the exterior, window damage, loss of mortar and shifting masonry.

VIA to the rescue!

Project Objective

The restoration of the Station had some clear objectives, which included preserving, restoring and rehabilitating the station’s masonry and windows, extending the useful life of the building and preventing any interior damage.

Of course all this work must respect and retain the defining heritage features of the building which meant a lot of careful planning and adjustments. For example, no new holes could be drilled into the masonry, so the scaffolding had to be erecting using a system that did not rely on cables attached to the building. Instead the scaffolding used a pressure-system that “hugged” the building. It was both very safe and very effective, and eliminated the possibility of further damage to the landmark.

View of the West elevation in the midst of restoration

East wall section after restoration: clean and bright!

The Assessment

The first part of the work entailed assessing the masonry on the entire building face. What VIA found was stained, loose masonry, which was missing pointing in many places. Many windows were damaged and needed replacing, others required structural repair work along with stripping and repainting of the frame.

First Tests

Due to the importance of keeping all the work in line with the Heritage status of the building, a part the exterior was chosen for a testing before the full project was launched. Trials on all restoration methods were carried out. The assessment proved very fruitful and many changes were made to the restoration materials and processes, ensuring that they all respected the accepted practices for work on Heritage buildings. Following this, the full-scale restoration was launched!

The Restoration

Over the course of 2011 Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station’s exterior was transformed from stained and mouldy building to fresh and clean, though the masonry that showed much staining will never be “perfect”. In order to remove all the staining, VIA would have had to sand away up to 1/8^th from the outside of the masonry, leaving the building too vulnerable to the elements and putting the stone finish at risk of suffering more damage. Still, compared to its former self, the exterior looks fantastic. Passers-by would likely not notice the slight imperfections, which in any event are the idiosyncratic characteristics that one can appreciate about a 93-year-old Heritage building.

During the restoration, almost all the masonry was re-pointed (the mortar between the stones was replaced). Design details such as the cornice were reinforced and re-affixed to the building using stronger long-lasting methods. The windows were either repaired and repainted or completely replaced. As well, the non-insulated sections of roof were properly insulated and the parapets were equipped with new continuous-venting flashing to prevent moisture build-up.

The Heritage station is not only easier on the eyes, it is also a more efficient and safer building.

Vancouver Station’s restoration was completed in December, 2011 and the work, funded through the Capital Investment program, should carry the 93-year-old Heritage Station’s envelope through many years of service before any more maintenance work is required.

In the words of Don Marquis, “There’s a dance in the old dame yet”