Electra Building, Mid-century skyscraper at Burrard and Nelson, Vancouver, Canada.
The Electra Building is a 21-story modern tower at 970 Burrard Street in Vancouver, completed in 1957 for BC Electric. Its mirrored glass curtain walls, designed by Charles Edward Pratt with Thompson Berwick and Pratt, form a diamond shape when seen from above, and the Dal Grauer Substation remains integrated into the base.
Built in 1957 for BC Electric under president Dal Grauer, the tower was designed by Charles Edward "Ned" Pratt of Thompson Berwick and Pratt. After Grauer's death in 1961 it passed to the provincial crown corporation BC Hydro. BC Hydro moved out in the late 1990s, and a 1998 renovation converted the offices into condominiums while the Dal Grauer Substation remained in operation.
The tower is named after Electra, a figure from Greek mythology, and its plan is said to resemble a playing-card diamond, angled toward the Pacific in honour of George Vancouver. The Dal Grauer Substation, integral to the building, still operates at street level.
The Electra Building stands at 970 Burrard Street, with the Dal Grauer Substation built into its base. It is a private residential condominium, so the lobby and units are not open to visitors; the mirrored glass exterior and the diamond-shaped profile are best seen from the street. The building is listed in a community heritage register.
The roof once held ten large air horns that played the opening notes of O Canada daily at noon for the public to hear. These horns were later relocated to Pan Pacific Vancouver where they continue to serve a similar purpose.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,842 contributors worldwide.
