Frank Stanzl Building, 1974

• Constructed 1974
• Location Vancouver, BC
• Architect
  Vladimir Plasvic (Vladimir Plasvic & Associates)
• Use Healthcare

Coming on the heels of Erickson/Massey’s standard-bearer 1968 MacMillan Bloedel Building on the downtown peninsula, the Frank Stanzl Building, a mere 2.5 kilometres away as the crow flies, has stood as a beacon to brutalist concrete architecture in Vancouver. Completed in 1974 along the Broadway corridor, visible above the south shore of False Creek, this 20-storey tower was designed by architect Vladimir Plasvic. The building primarily serves to house medical and dental facilities.

While timeless in many aspects, the building inside-and-out is a throwback to 1970’s design culture. The building’s massive concrete form – with a roof forming an abstracted gable and facades punctuated by deeply recessed windows – makes it instantly recognizable. The slopes of the building also reflect the natural topography on which it sits. On the interior, the design defies stereotypical “cold” brutalism: the lobby features cedar and douglas fir accents, natural light, and 1970s-style supergraphics, all of which contributes to a warmth and more perceptible human scale. Integral to the Broadway streetscape, the building is a quiet, bold landmark amid constant urban change.