Vancouver Waterfront Station Restoration

The iconic Station building at Vancouver’s waterfront is a century-old architectural gem that has gracefully transformed into a modern transportation hub. Originally built in 1912 by the Canadian Pacific Railway to welcome travelers from across the country, the neoclassical structure, with its red-brick exterior and stately white columns, has seen more than its fair share of history. But like any grand old building, time and the elements took their toll, leading to a four-year restoration effort from 2011 to 2015.

As workers painstakingly removed bricks, revealing the rusting steel beneath, the restoration became a square foot by square foot battle against corrosion. With some bricks salvaged from other buildings, and layers of paint carefully stripped away, the Waterfront Station slowly returned to its former glory. It’s a process that might make you appreciate every inch of this historic structure a little more as you catch your train or ferry.

Today, Waterfront is a bustling hub for Metro Vancouver’s SkyTrain lines and commuter ferry, seamlessly blending old-world charm with modern transit convenience. From the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay to the SkyTrain’s Expo Line and Canada Line, the Station has kept Vancouver moving for over a century. Though the last VIA passenger train left in 1979, the building remains a proud symbol of Vancouver’s evolving transportation history—proof that you can teach an old station new tricks.