Crystal Garden Building (Victoria)
Canada /
British Columbia /
Victoria /
Douglas Street (Trans-Canada Highway Victoria-St. Johns), 713
World
/ Canada
/ British Columbia
/ Victoria
World / Canada / British Columbia / Capital
interesting place
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Opening on June 25, 1925, the Crystal Garden originally housed the largest salt water swimming pool in the British Empire. Salt water for the pool was originally flowed through wooden pipes and was heated by the same steam plant as was used by the Empress Hotel's laundry facility. The pool closed in 1971 due to rising operating costs for its aging equipment.
In 1980 the building reopened as a community events venue and tropical display garden, housing thousands of plant and animal species. It was shut down in 2004 and the animals were shipped off to zoos all across Canada, some dying in the process due to stress of their sudden removal from their habitat.
It was replaced nine months later by a new attraction, the BC Experience. It was simply a big topographical foam map in the middle of BC. It lasted three months before it went bankrupt.
From 2005 to 2008, the Crystal Garden building has undergone two major restorations in addition to numerous tenant improvements. The 80-year-old heritage building was brought up to modern seismic and snowload standards and its iconic glass roof was replaced. Overall, the Provincial Capital Commission put $3.6 million into structural upgrades and the provincial government contributed an additional $1.5 million.
The main part of the Crystal Garden now operates as part of the Victoria Conference Centre. For rental information on conference centre rentals and events, please contact www.victoriaconference.com.
www.bcpcc.com/prop_crystalgarden.php
In 1980 the building reopened as a community events venue and tropical display garden, housing thousands of plant and animal species. It was shut down in 2004 and the animals were shipped off to zoos all across Canada, some dying in the process due to stress of their sudden removal from their habitat.
It was replaced nine months later by a new attraction, the BC Experience. It was simply a big topographical foam map in the middle of BC. It lasted three months before it went bankrupt.
From 2005 to 2008, the Crystal Garden building has undergone two major restorations in addition to numerous tenant improvements. The 80-year-old heritage building was brought up to modern seismic and snowload standards and its iconic glass roof was replaced. Overall, the Provincial Capital Commission put $3.6 million into structural upgrades and the provincial government contributed an additional $1.5 million.
The main part of the Crystal Garden now operates as part of the Victoria Conference Centre. For rental information on conference centre rentals and events, please contact www.victoriaconference.com.
www.bcpcc.com/prop_crystalgarden.php
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 48°25'14"N 123°21'57"W
- Pedder Bay 18 km
- Sidney Spit (Gulf Islands National Park Reserve) 26 km
- Fish Town (Historic) 66 km
- Whatcom Falls Park 78 km
- Dyes Inlet 99 km
- Lord Hill Reserve 115 km
- Vaughn Bay 127 km
- Point Defiance Park 137 km
- Monte Cristo, Washington 153 km
- Nisqually Mud Flats 154 km
- Fairmont Empress Hotel lawn 0.2 km
- Legislative Assembly Property 0.4 km
- Capital Park (under construction) 0.5 km
- Downtown 0.5 km
- South Park 0.5 km
- Coho Ferry Terminal 0.5 km
- James Bay 1 km
- Beacon Hill Park 1.1 km
- Fairfield 1.3 km
- Inner Harbour 1.7 km
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