Union Bank

The Union Bank, constructed in 1912, contributes significant heritage value to Victoria's downtown because it is one of the finest examples of a large-scale commercial building of this era in the city.

Designed in the style of the Chicago School, its stately temple-like form and fine architectural detail exude the permanence and solidity associated with Edwardian-era architecture, and is a fine representation of the development boom that occurred in Victoria between 1908 and 1913. Its large floor plate, considerable height, and use as the local headquarters of the Union Bank of Canada reflect the physical and commercial metamorphosis that transformed Victoria from a nineteenth-century supply town to a modern twentieth-century imperial city.

Together with the adjacent Central Building to the east, the landmark Union Bank forms an impressive commercial block that defines Trounce Alley to the north, and maintains the historical context of the commercial streetscapes on View and Government Streets.