When people visit our showroom, they’re usually focused on fabrics, measurements, and custom clothing.
What many don’t realize is they’re also stepping inside one of Vancouver’s most significant heritage buildings.
We’re located in the Rogers Building at the corner of Granville and Pender, a downtown landmark that has been part of the city since 1912. While Vancouver’s skyline has changed dramatically over the last century, the Rogers Building has remained a constant, watching the city grow around it. Rogers Building (Vancouver)
It Was a Skyscraper in 1912
Today, a ten-storey office building doesn’t sound particularly impressive.
In 1912, it was.
The Rogers Building was one of Vancouver’s earliest skyscrapers and one of Canada’s first reinforced concrete office towers. At the time, it represented modern engineering and ambitious thinking. It was built to show that Vancouver was becoming a major commercial city, not just a growing port on the West Coast.
For people walking down Granville Street more than 100 years ago, this was one of the buildings that defined the skyline. History of the Rogers Building
It Was Built by One of Vancouver's Founding Developers
The building was commissioned by Jonathan Rogers, one of the city’s most influential early businessmen.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Rogers wasn’t just responsible for this building. He helped shape large parts of early Vancouver through real estate development and public service, eventually serving on city council.
The Rogers Building became his signature project, and more than a century later, it still carries his name.
It Was Designed Around Natural Light
One feature that often goes unnoticed today was considered remarkably forward-thinking in 1912.
The building was designed around a central light well, allowing natural light to reach offices throughout the interior. Long before fluorescent lighting and modern office design, access to daylight was considered a major selling feature.
It’s one of those details most visitors never think about, but it demonstrates how carefully the building was planned.
It Has Survived More Than a Century of Change
The Rogers Building has witnessed almost everything in modern Vancouver’s history.
It has stood through two World Wars, the Great Depression, Expo 86, the transformation of Granville Street, and the construction of the city’s modern skyline.
Thousands of businesses have called it home over the decades, ranging from lawyers and architects to engineers, designers, consultants, and entrepreneurs.
One particularly fitting tenant was Dunn’s Tailors, which operated from the building for many years. Knowing that another custom clothing business now occupies part of the Rogers Building feels like a small continuation of that history. The Bespoke Difference
It Nearly Didn't Survive
Like many heritage buildings, there was a time when the Rogers Building faced an uncertain future.
As newer office towers appeared downtown, older buildings across the city were demolished to make way for redevelopment.
Fortunately, the Rogers Building was recognized for its architectural and historical significance and was protected through heritage designation. Careful restoration has allowed many of its original features to remain while keeping the building functional for modern businesses.
Without those preservation efforts, one of Vancouver’s most recognizable early office buildings could easily have disappeared.
Why We Chose It
When we were looking for a downtown showroom, we could have chosen a brand-new glass tower.
Instead, we chose a building with history.
Custom clothing is built on craftsmanship, patience, and longevity. Those are values we appreciate every day, and there’s something fitting about practising that craft inside a building that has stood for well over a century. How a Suit Should Fit: A Guide to Getting It Right
Every client who visits our showroom becomes a small part of the Rogers Building’s ongoing story.
We like to think that’s a pretty special place to create something that’s meant to last.
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