Simon Fraser University
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- The planning, design concept, design coordination, site development and landscaping for the original part of the campus were all under the control of Erickson/Massey. The complex was conceived as one building, with future growth occurring at the periphery. Tall buildings would have been out of scal…
- Associated Dates
- 1965
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- University Drive
- Associated Dates
- 1965
- Description
- The planning, design concept, design coordination, site development and landscaping for the original part of the campus were all under the control of Erickson/Massey. The complex was conceived as one building, with future growth occurring at the periphery. Tall buildings would have been out of scale with the massive mountaintop ridge, so a series of horizontal terraced structures were designed that hugged the ridge and dissolve into the landscape. Following the linear peak of the mountain, the scheme organized various parts of the campus along an east/west line. The concept of a central academic quadrangle was conceived within the tradition of Oxford and Cambridge, and to enhance the sense of contemplative quiet, it was designed as a perfect square raised on massive pilotis, allowing stunning views through a landscaped courtyard. The connecting link was a gigantic space frame-developed in conjunction with Jeffrey Lindsay, a one-time associate of Buckminster Fuller-that provided shelter and a gathering-place for the students. Other architects who had placed among the top five in the competition were retained to design the individual components of the original plan: the Academic Quadrangle by Zoltan S. Kiss; the Theatre, Gymnasium & Swimming Pool by Duncan McNab & Associates; the Science Complex by Rhone & Iredale; and the Library by Robert F. Harrison.
- Heritage Value
- Following the end of the Second World War, there was unprecedented growth throughout the Lower Mainland. Many returning veterans had settled on the coast, and the loosening of wartime restrictions led to the creation of many new suburban developments throughout the region. The growing population strained existing facilities, and there was a recognition that new educational facilities had to be constructed to meet these growing demands. For many years, the only university in the province was the University of British Columbia. In the 1960s, new universities were planned for both Victoria and Burnaby to serve the wave of baby boomers just then going through high school. The dramatic site chosen for the Burnaby university was the top of Burnaby Mountain, with expansive views over mountain ranges and water. An architectural competition was held for a campus of 7,000 students that could eventually be expanded to 18,000.
Of the many submissions, the judges reached unanimity on the winner, an outstanding scheme submitted by the firm of Erickson/Massey. The judges went even further, and recommended that every effort be made to ensure that the winning design be built as submitted. The new Chancellor, Gordon Shrum, agreed. The realization of this scheme won extensive recognition for the work of Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey, and launched Erickson’s international career. In Erickson’s words: "Unlike any previous university, Simon Fraser is a direct translation into architecture of the expanding fields of knowledge that defy traditional boundaries, of the vital role of the university as both challenger and conservor of human culture, and of the university community as one in constant intellectual, spiritual and social interchange."
The new school opened for classes in September 1965, nicknamed the “instant university,” and quickly gained a radical reputation. The startling futuristic architecture and open layout suited the explosive nature of the mid-1960s, when political and social traditions of all types were being questioned and student protests were common. Many of SFU’s programs were considered experimental, even controversial, and unrest and conflict on the campus continued for a number of years.
Since this auspicious beginning 40 years ago, SFU has grown to house 25,000 students on three campuses. The core of the original campus, recognized world-wide as a profound work of architecture, remains essentially intact today.
- Locality
- Burnaby Mountain
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Architect
- Erickson/Massey
- Area
- 1360000.00
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Ownership
- Private
- Street Address
- 8888 University Drive
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
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Simpson-Sears
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Associated Dates
- 1954
- Heritage Value
- The Simpson-Sears store on Kingsway opened in 1954 and was the second Simpson-Sears to be located in British Columbia. The store helped to solidify the neighbourhood's growing reputation as a major commercial centre in the Lower Mainland and became a prototype for the company's large format stores across Canada.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Street Address
- 4700 Kingsway
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Sperling-Broadway Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- By the 1970s, the Sperling-Broadway Neighbourhood was characterised as one of the Municipality's fastest growing residential areas. In 1980, it was estimated that slightly less than half of the homes were single-family residences, while the remaining development was taking the form of townhouse and high-rise apartments. The emphasis shifted back to single family housing during the construction of planned subdivisions such as the Camrose subdivision in the 1980s and the area remains primarily residential in nature. The neighbourhood is well-served by park facilities and is also home to the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
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Stride Avenue Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The interurban link between New Westminster and Vancouver stimulated the early settlement of Stride Avenue. Infilling of the area took place in the early 1950s and the pace of development had slowed considerably by 1970. Duplexes became a popular feature in the decade between 1970 and 1980 and in the late 1980s, the neighbourhood was incorporated into the Edmonds Town Centre South plan.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Avenue Area
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Stride Hill Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The residential areas that are located within the Stride Hill Neighbourhood were primarily developed in the 1950s during Burnaby's post-war building boom. The area lying to the south of Byrne Creek Ravine Park was used as a municipal garbage dump until the 1960s and as a landfill site for yard waste disposal until the early 1990s at which point the area was incorporated into the Edmonds Town Centre Plan and the land was made into park and open space.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Stride Hill Area
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Suncrest Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The Suncrest Neighbourhood is a small residential area south of Burnaby's Central Park. The Ocean View Burial Park takes up a large area of land in the north-east corner of this neighbourhood and the majority of the housing was built during the 1930-1960 period.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Suncrest Area
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Sussex Avenue School
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Irmin Street
- Associated Dates
- 1955-1982
- Heritage Value
- Sussex Avenue school was another school built during the peak expansion years of the 1950s and early 1960s. Burnaby's population was growing at such a fast pace during that decade that 10 new schools were built, and existing schools were expanded. Sussex Avenue School opened with 304 pupils. By the 1970s, student enrolment had slowed considerably from its peak and as a result, a number of schools - including Sussex - were closed.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Sussex-Nelson Area
- Street Address
- 4443 Irmin Street
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Sussex-Nelson Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The Sussex-Nelson Neighbourhood is located just south of Metrotown and in 1980 was characterised as the most populated of all of Burnaby's Planning Study areas. The area immediately south of Metrotown was initially developed as post-war 1950s housing stock, while the sector south of Rumble was developed after the 1960s and 1970s as single-family housing.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Alta Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Sussex-Nelson Area
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Trans Mountain Pipeline Company
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Shellmont Street
- Associated Dates
- 1953
- Heritage Value
- On March 21, 1951 the Parliament of Canada granted the Trans Mountain Oil Pipe Line Company a charter. By May of the following year, the Corporation of Burnaby gave final reading to Bylaw No. 3203, which resulted in the conveyance of land in DL 142, 143 and 144 (Burnaby Mountain site) to the Trans Mountain Oil Pipe Line Company. Construction of the Burnaby Mountain tank farm was completed in October of 1953 and the site became operational as the first shipment of oil reached Trans Mountain’s Burnaby Terminal.
- Planning Study Area
- Lake City Area
- Street Address
- 8099 Shellmont Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
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Twelfth Avenue Elementary School
Vancouver Heights Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- Vancouver Heights remained an important residential and commercial centre in Burnaby throughout the 1925-1954 period. The area had its own Board of Trade and the North Burnaby Library was created to serve the residents. In 1949, the Hastings streetcars stopped running, but the area retained its reputation as one of the best shopping districts in the city.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Heights Area
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West Central Valley Neighbourhood
Westridge Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- The Westridge Neighbourhood of Burnaby was created as a new subdivision during the post-World War Two housing boom in Burnaby. Developed by the C.B. Riley Company, it was laid out in a plan contoured to the shapes of the land and was situated to allow residents easy access to main transportation routes.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Westridge Area
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Westridge Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The Westridge Neighbourhood is effectively separated into two areas by Inlet Drive. To the west of the highway lies a typical 1950s subdivision of single-family homes, while to the east is a newer (1970s) subdivision featuring larger lots and some low-rise units. In the 1980 Residential Neighbourhood Environment Study, Westridge was characterised as a stable community with little need for direct Municipal involvement in growth and development.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Westridge Area
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Westridge School
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Duncan Avenue
- Associated Dates
- 1953
- Heritage Value
- The building boom in Burnaby during the first few years of the 1950s resulted in many new subdivisions being created in previously unoccupied areas of Burnaby. One such neighbourhood was the Westridge area. In 1951, the Inspector of Schools noted in a report that there were 475 new homes in Westridge with another 100 under development. As a result, enrolment pressures were particularly heavy in this area and the School Board opened the Westridge Elementary School in 1953.
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Lochdale (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Westridge Area
- Street Address
- 510 Duncan Avenue
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
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Willingdon Heights Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1925-1954
- Heritage Value
- Willingdon Heights was another new subdivision developed in Burnaby during the post-World War Two building boom. A brochure about the development published in 1948 proclaimed "the Willingdon Heights 500 home development project in Burnaby fulfills its promise to provide a self-contained community for former members of the armed services and their families...the largest single veteran housing project in Canada as far as homes for individual ownership is concerned, Willingdon Heights development was planned by the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation...At this date the earlier built rows of homes have passable roads and the owners are improving lawns and gardens in spare time...eventually additional stores and professional services will be installed and recreational projects will add to the amenities of a community of congenial residents..."
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
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Willingdon Heights Neighbourhood
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Associated Dates
- 1955-2008
- Heritage Value
- The convenient location of Willingdon Heights to the Trans Canada Highway, Lougheed Highway and Hastings Street has fostered its development as a primarily residential commuter neighbourhood. Characterised in the post-World War Two period by predominantly single-family developments, the neighbourhood has retained this identity despite some higher density apartment buildings now found there.
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
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Willingdon Heights United Church
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Parker Street
- Associated Dates
- 1951
- Description
- Church building.
- Heritage Value
- This church was built to serve a 500-home subdivision known as Willingdon Heights–Canada’s largest single veteran’s housing project created by the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation and constructed by the Whitsell Construction Company in 1948. The church building was designed as a simplified Gothic Revival church with a tall front tower and Gothic pointed-arch stained glass window and entrance. This church was designed by Vancouver architects Twizell & Twizell. Both Robert Twizell (1875-1964) and younger brother George Twizell (1885-1957) articled at Newcastle, England’s Hicks & Charlewood before arriving in Vancouver in late 1907 or early 1908, with George working for Robert until they established a partnership a few years later. Their firm lasted for nearly half a century and was well known for its numerous church designs.
- Locality
- Vancouver Heights
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
- Architect
- Twizell & Twizell
- Area
- 1808.82
- Contributing Resource
- Building
- Ownership
- Private
- Street Address
- 4304 Parker Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Less detail