Harbour Centre

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Harbour Centre, as seen from Waterfront Station downtown.

Harbour Centre is a notable skyscraper in the Central Business District of Vancouver, British Columbia. Distinctly identifiable with its 360 degree viewing deck, it also serves as a tourist attraction, offering a physically unobstructed view of the city.

Designed by WZMH Architects, the building has 28 storeys. Its structural height is 146 metres (481 feet), making it the third tallest building in Vancouver (2007). However, the height of the ornamental pylon at the top is often included as part of the building's overall height, and arriving at a figure of 177 metres (581 feet), the building is sometimes promoted as British Columbia's tallest, measured from Cordova Street to the tip of the spire.

Harbour Centre/Vancouver Lookout (far left circular top building) as seen from the Burrard Inlet

The building is located at 555 West Hastings Street in Downtown Vancouver. It is steps away from Waterfront Station, a major multi-modal transit hub which serves as the Downtown Vancouver terminal for various TransLink operations such as SeaBus, West Coast Express, SkyTrain metro and buses.

Simon Fraser University operates its downtown Harbour Centre campus in the adjoining Spencer building. The Consulate General of Italy is also a major tenant at the building. Was originally the site of the Downtown Vancouver "Simpson Sears" department store before closing down in the 80's.

[edit] As a tourist attraction

The Vancouver Lookout tourist attraction, located atop the Harbour Centre business building, was officially opened on August 13, 1977 by Neil Armstrong, whose footprint was imprinted onto cement and today is on display on the viewing/observation deck.

The circular viewing deck provides an unobstructed view of Downtown Vancouver and its surroundings. On clear days, visitors can even see Mount Baker, USA with the naked eye.

Harbour Centre, as seen from Gastown

Besides the viewing/observation deck, the tower also features a revolving restaurant, the Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant. It is one of three completely revolving restaurants that remain in the city.