CF Pacific Centre Developments

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Originally Posted by officedweller

Originally, there never were escalators at that location - it was retail space, and the only way to get to the mall on the south side of Georgia was through Eaton's. I think the escalators were installed in the 1980s, together with the entrance facing the plaza.
...and you could walk from TD Tower lobby through the TD bank to the breezeway and into Eaton's without going outside. That would get you to Robson St. indoors at grade without escalators.

EDIT:

Found a pic - there was an alcove there - with plaza stairs down to the building!
Sure looked like an interesting space back then...


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/pacific-centre-701-granville-street

I think this is probably the only pic I've seen where you can see the entrance to Eaton's rotunda when it had no doors - just jets or air from above.


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/description-in-progress-5326

and a plan of the plaza:


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploa...2-1b9a-4620-9bd5-193cb6472449-A74121.jpg

The overall design was brilliant, consistent, modernist. The diagonal design was everywhere and can still be seen today on the sidewalks alongs the Robson side, those will likely be torn-up soon.

Over the years the plaza has gradually been destroyed, first in the 80's with the removal of the elongated water-feature along Granville, then the removal of the diagonal paving in favour of the 80's circular motif and the removal of the metal sculpture, then the TD Tower expanded mall entrance with the mis-matched glass entrance we have today, completely breaking up the black monolithic shape of the tower.

What a mess!

At least now there appears to be some elements of modernism returning, especially with the boxy entrance to the TD Tower.

Obviously the original design for Pacific Centre was ahead of it's time and very under-appreciated. The me it was bold and beautiful and very Mies van der Rohe influenced.