The Marine Building Renovation | DIALOG

Location: Vancouver, BC
Client: Oxford Properties
Completion: 2015
Size: 1,850 sq m

19,913 sq ft
Collaborators: Glasfurd & Walker
DIALOG Services: Architecture

Interior Design

Mechanical Engineering

Download as a PDF

The rehabilitation of portions of the McCarter and Nairne-designed Marine Building juxtaposes vintage flare with modern elegance, bridging the past with the future. The building is a unique and glamorous element of Vancouver's downtown cityscape. Its façade, with a sealife motif. and its elegant entrance are unparalleled in Vancouver. The lobby is an undeniable Art Deco masterpiece. To amplify its design, DIALOG was engaged by Oxford Properties to refurbish entrances, elevators, common areas, and the building’s marketable vacancies, including a JJ Bean café.

01/09

marine building vancouver carousel 01b — Entry sequence and main lobby The lobby spaces are a clean, white canvas with four custom backlit brass panels.

marine building vancouver carousel 02 — Each panel reveals a story from the past.

marine building vancouver carousel 03 — Drawing inspiration from the building’s impressive façade and entry design, one of the wood species is carried into the lobby flooring with an Art Deco pattern.

marine building vancouver carousel 04 — Art deco in 3D A basic Deco motif was selected, abstracted, and amplified in 3D foms in restrooms and the JJ Bean Café amenity space.

marine building vancouver carousel 05 — Restrooms in modernity Restroom signage speaks to the past, with dark espresso-stained maple wood, frosted reeded glass inset, and hand-painted signage

marine building vancouver carousel 06 — Two restroom styles unfold throughout the building. The first is a bright material palette that uses marble hexagon mosaic floors and classic white subway tiles.

marine building vancouver carousel 07 — All original marble washroom dividers were re-purposed by pairing these slabs with espresso maple custom doors.

marine building vancouver carousel 08 — The second style is rich and grounding.

marine building vancouver carousel 09 — A custom walnut wall and ceiling offers pyramid shaped millwork - a modern take on the geometric details of Art Deco design.

Meet The Team

marine building jjbean cafe vancouver special feature 01 — Special Feature
JJ Bean Café The building's ground level is occupied by a JJ Bean café

marine building jjbean cafe vancouver special feature 02 — Special Feature01
True to JJ Bean's shape-shifting branding that mandates their café designs take cues from the community, the space is a tribute to Art Deco.

marine building jjbean cafe vancouver special feature 03 — Special Feature02
Two elements highlight the era: a dapper floor-to-ceiling motif, and a ceiling installation that brings 2D geometrical design into 3D form.

Awards

2016 Award of Merit, Partial Office, IDIBC