MacMillan Bloedel Building

Ahem.

I promised you a series of blog posts about Arthur Erickson buildings that have shaped Vancouver, way back in (checks notes) June.

What can I say? A glorious BC summer got in my way and I’ve been spending as much time away from my computer as possible. I’m sure you understand.

However, I do want to showcase those buildings, and so, here we go.

First up is the MacMillan Bloedel Building that stands prominently in the centre of downtown Vancouver.

It was completed in 1968 and is a typical example of Brutalism, the style of architecture the dominated the middle of the previous century.

Each window measures 7 feet by 7 feet and is a single pane of glass. The lobby is separated from the street by a series of sunken pools and concrete planters filled with trees and other vegetation.

Standing 27 storeys tall, the MacMillan Bloedel Building was the tallest in Vancouver when finished. It was built to house the headquarters of MacMillan Bloedel, a forestry company that hasn’t existed for 25 years. Although it was renamed Arthur Erickson Place in 2019, it’s still commonly referred to as the MacBlo Building.