Electra Building facts for kids
The Electra Building is a well-known building in Vancouver, British Columbia. It's a tall, impressive structure that has been an important part of the city's skyline for many years.
History of the Electra Building
The Electra Building was built in 1957. A company called John Laing & Sons constructed it. It was designed to be the main office, or "headquarters," for the BC Electric Company. Dal Grauer was the president of this company at the time.
Just a few days after Dal Grauer passed away in 1961, the building became part of a new company. This new company was called BC Hydro. It was a "crown corporation," which means it was owned and run by the government of British Columbia.
The building is 21 stories tall and stands about 89 meters (293 feet) high. A famous architect named Charles Edward "Ned" Pratt designed it. When it was first built, some people thought it was the tallest office building in the Commonwealth. However, this wasn't quite true.
In the late 1990s, BC Hydro moved its offices to other locations. The Electra Building was then sold. In 1998, it was updated and changed. Most of the building became residential condo apartments. Even today, BC Hydro still uses a part of the building. This part is called the Dal Grauer Substation, which helps manage electricity.
The Famous Heritage Horns
When BC Electric had its offices in the building, something special happened every day. Ten large air horns were placed on top of the building. At noon, these horns would play the first four notes of O Canada, which is Canada's national anthem.
These unique horns have since been moved. You can now find them on the roof of the Pan Pacific Vancouver building. They are owned and managed by Canada Place, another important landmark in Vancouver.
See also
In Spanish: Edificio Electra para niños
