Sinclair Centre facts for kids
Vancouver Post Office, c. 1937, now part of the Sinclair Centre complex.
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| Location | Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| Address | 757 West Hastings Street |
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The Sinclair Centre is a special shopping and office building in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. It's located on West Hastings Street. This unique place is made up of four old buildings that were carefully fixed up. They were then connected by a new, bright glass area called an atrium in 1986. This big project cost about 38 million dollars.
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History of the Sinclair Centre Buildings
The Sinclair Centre is not just one building. It's a group of four historic buildings that were joined together. Each building has its own story and was built at a different time.
The Post Office Building
One of the main buildings used to be the city's central post office. It was built in 1910 and served as the main post office until 1958. This building has a grand and fancy style called Edwardian Baroque. This style mixes ideas from English and French architecture.
Inside the old Post Office building, there's a huge clock. It has four faces, each about 12 feet (3.7 meters) across! This clock was built in 1909. It has the biggest clock parts in all of Western Canada. Just the minute hands on this clock weigh 92 kilograms (202 pounds) each!
Other Important Buildings
Besides the Post Office, three other buildings make up the Sinclair Centre:
- The Winch Building was built in 1911 by Thomas Hooper. It's known for its beautiful design.
- The Customs Examining Warehouse was built in 1913 by David Ewart. This building was used to check goods coming into the country.
- The Federal Building was added in 1937 by Thomas W. Fuller.
These buildings were all renovated in 1986 to create the Sinclair Centre we see today.
What's Inside Sinclair Centre?
Today, the Sinclair Centre is home to fancy shops called "elite boutiques." These shops sell high-end and unique items. It's a great place to find special gifts or just look around.
The building also has a large office tower with seven floors. These offices are used by the Canadian federal government. So, it's a place where people shop and where government work gets done!
Renaming the Centre
On November 13, 1983, it was announced that the complex would be renamed the Sinclair Centre. It was named after a man named James Sinclair. He was a politician who served in the Canadian Parliament. He was also the Minister of Fisheries.
James Sinclair is also famous for another reason. He was the grandfather of Justin Trudeau, who became the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada.
Images for kids
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The Winch Building
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The Customs Examining Warehouse Building
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The Federal Building
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The Post Office building
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Close up of tower and columns
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Service Canada inside Sinclair Centre
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View of NW corner of Granville & West Hastings, December 20, 1912
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