Harbour Centre Tower

Mid-century brutalist buildings

A Vancouver landmark since it went up in 1977, the Harbour Centre Tower was designed by the Webb, Zerafa, Menkes and Housden partnership employing the then, more oft-used, mid-70s Brutalist style.

Its smooth unadorned concrete exterior holds two glass elevators and stands 28-stories tall – more than 40 if you include its distinctive flying saucer-shaped topper which holds The Vancouver Lookout and a revolving restaurant, Top of Vancouver.  At over 550 feet, it was once the tallest building in the city.

Harbour Centre Tower was opened in 1977 by special guest, NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong, who left his footprint in the cement, implying this tower was one giant leap for… Vancouver?

Bonus Building: If you’re a fan of tall buildings with revolving restaurants on top you won’t want to miss the Empire Landmark Hotel at 1400 Robson Street in the West End. Designed in 1970 by Lort & Lort, this 42-story building is another Brutalist gem accented with blue Italian tile and topped off by the Cloud 9 revolving restaurant where the views are truly breathtaking (DEMOLISHED IN 2020).