Architecture in Downtown New West

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Historic New West and the Iconic Buildings

Travel back in time with us to virtually explore the buildings in Downtown New West to see what they used to look like before you were (most likely) born!

New West is littered with historic buildings, each with their own story to tell. Below are some historic buildings in New West that you should already know about, but just in case, allow us to refresh your memory.

Westminster Trust Building

1

Built in 1911-12, the Westminster Trust Building is valued as a landmark structure on Columbia Street as the city's earliest and most historic area of commercial and institutional buildings. This was New Westminster's first true skyscraper and represents the progressive design of the early twentieth century. Originally designed as a six storey structure, two additional floors were added before it was started, demonstrating the growth and prosperity of the era as no expenses were spared in order to provide modern conveniences (at the time) such as steam heating, running water, electric light, gas and telephone outlets.

 

St. Paul's Reformed Episcopal Church

2

St. Paul's Reformed Episcopal Church is valued for its long-term occupancy of this prominent downtown site. The original church was built in the 1880s and destroyed by the Great Fire of 1898. The present structure was designed as a replica of the original, and has been maintained at this corner site for over a century.

 
T. Eaton and Company Store
3

What is now the iconic Army and Navy, the building’s former self used to be as an example of the large department stores that began to proliferate in downtowns prior to and after the Second World War. There are many surviving interior elements that date to the 1949 renovation such as the column casings, stairwells with metal handrails and interior finishes.

 
Curtis-Armstrong Block
4

The Curtis-Armstrong Block is valued for its association with its architect George William Grant (1852-1925), a prolific architect who designed many of the buildings in Downtown New Westminster before and after the Great Fire. He redesigned and restored buildings that survived, and designed replacement blocks for those that were destroyed, much reduced in scale and opulence from the pre-fire buildings.

 
Paramount Building
5

The Paramount Theatre is historically important as one of the oldest surviving motion picture theatre buildings in B.C. The Paramount Theatre was highly significant to the community, as television was not yet widely available and movies were the main form of public entertainment.

 
Federal Building and Post Office
cover

The Federal Building and Post Office is valued as representative of the continual presence of the Federal Government on Columbia Street at this site since 1860. Today it houses the New Westminster Police Department on the first two floors, with the top floors converted to residential use.

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