Iona Building

Location:

6000 Iona Dr.

Date:

West wing: 1927
Tower: 1934
East (Academic) wing: 1961-62
[2005] Elevator added to southwest corner

Architect:

1927, 1934: Sharp & Thompson
1961-62: Thompson, Berwick & Pratt

Cost:

1927, 1934: n/a
1961-62: $634,650 (including stone-facing of the tower)

Sources of funds:

n/a

Name history:

1927-1971 Union College (United Church of Canada)
1971-2014 Vancouver School of Theology
2014 - Vancouver School of Economics of UBC
Also known as Westminster Building

Architectural features:

Two long wings protruding from the central reinforced concrete tower. Tudor gothic. 
Central Tower consists of a stained glass windows. 
Exterior: stone. Leaded shields stair windows.
Interior: Two large modern conference rooms, four seminar rooms, offices, residential rooms and formerly a chapel and library.
Just outside the building are a Maltese labyrinth and a totem pole. The 14-foot totem, “All My Relations", was carved & designed by Jack La-Sah Timothy of the Sliammon First Nation. The pole depicts a raven holding a moon, salmon, frog, bear, Chief and eagle.

Use history:

1927 - 2014 - Theological Seminary, Archives, and Library
2014 - Vancouver School of Economics
2016 - Iona House Student Residence
2020 - Cognitive Systems - occupies the former archives and library space.
University Hill Congregation (Now meets in the Chapel of the Epiphany)

Notes:

Tower stone-faced in 1961-62.
Sold to UBC in 2014 for $28 million.
Building has been featured in numerous movies and TV series.

Sources:

United Church Archives; Thompson, Berwick, Pratt; UBC Essays; Vancouver School of Theology.

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