[Mrs Sauga]

VANCOUVER
Royal Centre

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Royal_Centre_Vancouver_%28Vancouver_2010%29.jpg/450px-Royal_Centre_Vancouver_%28Vancouver_2010%29.jpg

Bull-Doser http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Centre_Vancouver_%28Vancouver_2010%29.jpg

CALGARY
Royal Bank Building

http://brookfieldofficeproperties.com/_Global/25/img/moduleimages/2272.jpg

http://brookfieldofficeproperties.com/ca/calgary/bankers-hall/royal-bank-building

EDMONTON
Royal Bank Building

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/8/2/4/xy_824F4EAF-5DED-48AC-BD31-F18DAC0B4BDF__.jpg

http://looplink.edmonton.cbre.ca/ll/16276523/10117-Jasper-Avenue/

REGINA

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xnZi4wKnMtc/SZMZpA6cQ1I/AAAAAAAABvo/_34anqpV3CU/s1600/11thIMG_0696.4Regina.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xnZi4wKnMtc/SZMZpA6cQ1I/AAAAAAAABvo/_34anqpV3CU/s1600/11thIMG_0696.4Regina.jpg

WINNIPEG
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3025/3105522406_8cb3a2e2ea.jpg

wintorbos http://www.flickr.com/photos/26266017@N00/3105522406/

LONDON
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/7932979.jpg
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/7932979.jpg

TORONTO
Royal Bank Plaza

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2659/4238939836_7b0de39aa3.jpg

hanneoral http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2659/4238939836_7b0de39aa3.jpg

OTTAWA

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2737/5731562315_933ff9fde4.jpg
alec saunders http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2737/5731562315_933ff9fde4.jpg

MONTREAL
Place Ville Marie

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4002/4190608285_ca367c511a.jpg

susanvg http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4002/4190608285_ca367c511a.jpg

QUEBEC CITY

http://www.mensuel.ca/attachments/Image/Saint-Jean_ouest/P1020909.JPG
http://www.mensuel.ca/attachments/Image/Saint-Jean_ouest/P1020909.JPG

HALIFAX

http://schoolofhealthadministration.dal.ca/Images/RBC.gif

http://schoolofhealthadministration.dal.ca/Images/RBC.gif

[Surrealplaces]

CALGARY
Royal Bank Building

http://brookfieldofficeproperties.com/_Global/25/img/moduleimages/2272.jpg

http://brookfieldofficeproperties.com/ca/calgary/bankers-hall/royal-bank-building



Most of the Calgary RBC staff are in the Bankers Hall tower.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3403/3561723220_27138b4573_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevincappis/3561723220/)
Bankers Hall - Calgary, Canada (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevincappis/3561723220/) by Surrealplaces (http://www.flickr.com/people/kevincappis/), on Flickr

[Reesonov]

MONTREAL
Place Ville Marie

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4002/4190608285_ca367c511a.jpg

susanvg http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4002/4190608285_ca367c511a.jpg



And its not even close.

[someone123]

The Royal Bank was originally founded as the Merchants' Bank of Halifax in the 1860's. The 1960's-era Royal Bank tower in Halifax was built on the site of the older Victorian offices:

http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/largeimages/v11553.jpg
Source (http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/VIEW-11553.0)

30's-era George Street with the Royal Bank building on the far right:
http://gov.ns.ca/nsarm/images/EastCoastPort/200904851.jpg
Source (http://gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/EastCoastPort/archives.asp?ID=13)

Their old building in Montreal still exists at 1870 Notre-Dame West:
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/largeimages/ii113630.jpg
Source (http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/II-113630)

There was recently an announcement that the Royal Bank is moving into a new building in Halifax called RBC Waterside Centre. This is the construction site. The "striped" highrise on the right is the old Royal Bank building:

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/582397_392749820768768_478366170_n.jpg
Source (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.392749797435437.87209.108681372508949)

[MTLskyline]

My favourite stopped being the head office in the early 1960s. The most beautiful Royal Bank branch of them all closed permanently (with a whimper) one week ago.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4380580915_a993bb5ec2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4380580915/)
Vieux Montréal, fév. 2010. Rue Saint-Pierre >Nord, depuis Place D'Youville. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4380580915/) by DubyDub2009 (http://www.flickr.com/people/urbexplo/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2511/3832695509_21836a5289_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3832695509/)
Montreal - Vieux Montréal: Tour de la Banque Royale (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3832695509/) by wallyg (http://www.flickr.com/people/wallyg/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2788/4439719446_03bbaae484_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/normanimperatoriphotography/4439719446/)
Old clock on St. Jacques (http://www.flickr.com/photos/normanimperatoriphotography/4439719446/) by Norman Imperatori (http://www.flickr.com/people/normanimperatoriphotography/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2589/3833489926_250295fec5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3833489926/)
Montreal - Vieux Montréal: Tour de la Banque Royale (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3833489926/) by wallyg (http://www.flickr.com/people/wallyg/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7305800944_ca893b9d7d_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7305796084_e18f0f22e6_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7305798672_023f36cf04_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7305806090_b2e6b95881_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7305808444_1c7d513d59_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/7305811710_b08374e812_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7305814654_279d784bf4_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7305820324_042cfdeb73_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7305823182_91cd65aa9f_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7305825438_7f874a6466_c.jpg

(my photos - July 2010)

[Reesonov]

^ Its amazing that today we can't even afford to maintain works of art like this, let alone build them. Sometimes it doesn't feel like we're making progress.

[flar]

There is a Royal Bank building in London, ON, although I'm not sure if Royal Bank still has any offices there. It's ugly anyways, you wouldn't want to see a picture. It certainly doesn't compete with PVM or RBP.

[MolsonExport]

My favourite stopped being the head office in the early 1960s. The most beautiful Royal Bank branch of them all closed permanently (with a whimper) one week ago.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4380580915_a993bb5ec2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4380580915/)
Vieux Montréal, fév. 2010. Rue Saint-Pierre >Nord, depuis Place D'Youville. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4380580915/) by DubyDub2009 (http://www.flickr.com/people/urbexplo/), on Flickr

(my photos - July 2010)

Second that, with bells on.

[MolsonExport]

There is a Royal Bank building in London, ON, although I'm not sure if Royal Bank still has any offices there. It's ugly anyways, you wouldn't want to see a picture. It certainly doesn't compete with PVM or RBP.

Spare our fragile eyes from yet another London fugly.

[SFUVancouver]

Vancouver's got a second Royal Bank office tower. This one significantly predates the other.

http://www.bcbusinessonline.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/slideshow/ROYAL-BANK-5.jpg
Source: http://www.bcbusinessonline.ca/bcb/top-stories/top-100/2010/07/07/photographic-history-vancouver-banks

The interior is incredible, but, alas, I could only seem to find one shot in my brief search.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7005/675whastings.jpg
Source: http://www.collierscanada.com/813

[jeremy_haak]

There is also the Royal Bank Centre in Ottawa on Sparks St. and the RBC Dexia office in downtown Toronto.

[vid]

You forgot Thunder Bay.

http://www.brunoscontracting.com/Office&RetailSpace/images/RBC_Ext_3_lrg.jpg

It fronts onto a ditch beside a busy suburban intersection! :D

Old logo FTW. Used to scare me when I was a kid.

[Martin Mtl]

^ Its amazing that today we can't even afford to maintain works of art like this, let alone build them. Sometimes it doesn't feel like we're making progress.

The bank moved out, but the hall will remain as is, because it is an historic classified building.

[West_aust]

Banks are only looking at profit line, no sense whatsoever of pride in their history, keeping their landmarks locations open even if they arent the most cost effective. If they were people, they'd sell their mothers and children to increase their profit by 1$

[vid]

Banks are only looking at profit line, no sense whatsoever of pride in their history, keeping their landmarks locations open even if they arent the most cost effective. If they were people, they'd sell their mothers and children to increase their profit by 1$

Did you know that the president of RBC only has seven cars? He's practically homeless compared to the president of BMO.

[JHikka]

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2043/4509903128_38149c98f1_b.jpg

Actually, come to think of it, Lunenburg is pretty good for banks..

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2681/4509829628_9b8cb01b58_b.jpg

[vid]

OMG those are adorable!

I kind of like BMO's incorporation of their corporate colours into the facade with a large, contrasting smooth block over the door. I'd have used a more unique door than the one they have to fit the building better but it looks pretty good. The corner sign with the rounded edges has to change though.

[someone123]

Some of the branches like the ones in Lunenburg were actually standard designs that they'd build in different small towns. Sydney had an identical Bank of Montreal. I don't know if it's still there. They used to have a nice Royal Bank building but I think it's gone:

http://museum.gov.ns.ca/imagesns/binaries/DHPK44225-DEV01514.jpg
Source (http://museum.gov.ns.ca/imagesns/html/40076.html)

I think this Royal Bank building in Saint John is still there. This building was in 1911 or earlier -- it has a pretty simplified, modern-looking design for that period:
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/largeimages/v11547.jpg
Source (http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/VIEW-11547.0)

[vid]

That's Edwardian architecture, from the Edwardian era. It isn't any more or less modern than most other medium sized Edwardian buildings of the time...

[Rumors]

My photos:http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-bp9WCFw/0/XL/i-bp9WCFw-XL.jpg,http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-4jqct5p/0/XL/i-4jqct5p-XL.jpg

[JHikka]

I think this Royal Bank building in Saint John is still there. This building was in 1911 or earlier -- it has a pretty simplified, modern-looking design for that period:
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/largeimages/v11547.jpg
Source (http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/VIEW-11547.0)

Still there, although it is legal offices now. TD used to be in here until a few years ago.
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4034/4344414086_ed8325948e_b.jpg

BMO just moved back into their original building, as well:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2772/4344406382_73f21bfa42_b.jpg

[artvandelay]

I went on a tour of the Royal Bank tower in Old Montreal when I was a kid and I can honestly say it is one of the most fantastic buildings I have ever been in.

[The_Architect]

TORONTO
Royal Bank Plaza

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2659/4238939836_7b0de39aa3.jpg

hanneoral http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2659/4238939836_7b0de39aa3.jpg


It's plated with real freaking gold...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Royal_Bank_Plaza,_Toronto.jpg

This isn't even a contest. The old one in Montreal comes 2nd.

[caltrane74]

Yeah Royal Bank Plaza is Gold Plated.

No way, the 1%'ers would get away building shit like this ever agian.

Likely it will be declared a heritage building before I'm dead.

[rbt]

Yeah Royal Bank Plaza is Gold Plated.

No way, the 1%'ers would get away building shit like this ever agian.

It's only a few million dollars worth of gold even at todays prices. The LED strip and crown on trump cost just as much with significantly less impact.

I could even see a condo doing it (perhaps a gold stripe or two up the sides) if they could make it their mandatory 1% art budget.

[vid]

The amount of gold in those windows is actually extremely small (they still have to see out them) and it's embedded in a way that makes it unrecoverable. It's purely a showpiece.

It's a neat little building though.

[Martin Mtl]

That's my favorite, for so many reasons. No contest indeed.

http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/rapport2011/images/portfolio/13-pvm.jpg
Source (http://www.ivanhoecambridge.com/rapport2011/images/portfolio/13-pvm.jpg)

http://www.louer.ca/a-upload-b/com/lrg/1432_01.jpg
Source (http://www.louer.ca/1v/)

[Ramako]

Montrealers say PVM and Torontonians say Royal Bank Plaza. Shocking.

[davidivivid]

This used to be the headquarters of the Quebec Bank. Opened in 1818, it was the second oldest chartered bank in Canada (1 year after the Bank of Montreal). It was later bought by the Royal Bank and this building became their regional branch.


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3269/5846192992_5a4f30f618_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidivivid/5846192992/)
Siège social de la Quebec Bank (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidivivid/5846192992/) par davidivivid (http://www.flickr.com/people/davidivivid/), sur Flickr


It is now part of the Civilization Museum since the bank moved to this ugly thing:

http://www.mensuel.ca/attachments/Image/Saint-Jean_ouest/P1020909.JPG
http://www.mensuel.ca/rue-saint-jean-quebec-palais-montcalm-capitole-simons-terrasses-restaurants-hotels.html

[le calmar]

The branch in Iqaluit, no contest.

http://www.arcticcircle.ca/Baffin/Iqaluit/0303/P2261020.JPG
articcircle.ca

[Martin Mtl]

Montrealers say PVM and Torontonians say Royal Bank Plaza. Shocking.

Yeah, I know. Seriously though, they are both great.

[jeremy_haak]

The amount of gold in those windows is actually extremely small (they still have to see out them) and it's embedded in a way that makes it unrecoverable. It's purely a showpiece.

It's a neat little building though.

I understand that it actually saves a non-trivial amount of money on heating/cooling in addition to being flashy and ostentatious.

[Andrewjm3D]

Yeah, I know. Seriously though, they are both great.

Indeed. Here are a few angles of the Royal Bank Plaza.

by Muttoo on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imuttoo/5689204096/lightbox/
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5145/5689204096_3df5a9f0ab_b.jpg

by Eye-Fi on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/w_yvr/7245099118/lightbox/
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5350/7245099118_841be4e7df_b.jpg

[Alexcaban]

All I have to say is shame on RBC for closing there old Montreal branch and hats off to BMO for keeping theirs.

[Chadillaccc]

1 million dollars worth of gold were used and that is in 1979 currency. So the gold is prolly worth 3 million? Still though, unrecoverable... and... awesome!

[Rico Rommheim]

All I have to say is shame on RBC for closing there old Montreal branch and hats off to BMO for keeping theirs.

Yeah but for how much longer? What actually happens in those buildings on Place d'armes? They're really just relics of BMO's past, much like the old RBC tower. Sooner or later, like a previous forumer said, the bank is going to make a business decision and shut her down. I mean, I don't think I've ever met a single Montrealer with a BMO account.

[Andrewjm3D]

This building used to be the Guaranteed Life company, built in 1917 with 13 floors. It houses the offices for the more senior management of the Bank of Montreal.

From urbantoronto.ca
http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/02/then-and-now-302-bay-street
http://urbantoronto.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/display-slideshow/images/articles/2012/02/5050/urbantoronto-5050-15468.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2653/4198755865_8ef793f51b_b.jpg

[Rico Rommheim]

Interesting how even in 1917 Bank of Montreal had a high rise in Toronto when Montreal didn't get it's until 1960. And it's the only so far, too.

[Andrewjm3D]

Interesting how even in 1917 Bank of Montreal had a high rise in Toronto when Montreal didn't get it's until 1960. And it's the only so far, too.

It wasn't, it was built for The Guaranteed Life company. I just figured we'd run out of RBC Headquarters pretty soon.

[kool maudit]

bmo isn't a great bank on the retail level.

[Andrewjm3D]

bmo isn't a great bank on the retail level.

I agree, they're slow as hell; even their bank machines are slow. TD/CanadaTrust is the best bank, they have the best hours, fastest service, and friendly service. TD used to be crappy as well until they acquired Canada trust and took on that banks style of customer service.

[vid]

I made the mistake of using BMO. Their main branch for Thunder Bay has only one ATM, and it often runs out of money. :) Dealing with the actual people there is never an issue though. As long as I avoid the ATM, banking there isn't too bad. The excessive fees are annoying though. All said and done, using a non-BMO ATM will cost me 3 to 6 dollars.

I used to deal with RBC and their in-person customer service is total shit. It's like they purposefully look for the most uptight and rude people to work their counters.

[Andrewjm3D]

Jeezuz, why are atm fees so high for you? National trust doesn't charge any service fees for using other banks ATM's seeing as they have very few locations. At least the used to do that.

[Gerrard]

Canadian Banks are the biggest grifters. We might have all been conditioned to praise their solvency over the last recession but the truth is they did it by basically stealing YOUR money through exorbitant user fees and usury level interest rates.

And they all suck for service. Some are just worse than others.

I never carry a balance and that's basically the only way I can tell them to f* themselves every month.

[vid]

Jeezuz, why are atm fees so high for you?

A dollar here, a dollar there, five dollars for this or that.

BMOs website is also really, really slow. The login process takes about a minute.

My account costs $4 a month, I get charged $1.50 for using a non-BMO ATM (on top of the 1 to 5 dollars that those charge themselves), a dollar for using a BMO ATM at any branch that isn't mine, a dollar for making transfers or payments online more than once per month, a dollar for every time I use my debit card more than once a month. If I deposit my cheque through an ATM or at a BMO branch that isn't my home branch, the cheque will be held for 6 business days before I can access the money. They just changed that policy though, effective August 8th, it will be held for *only* five days, but we're going to get charged a dollar for doing it. And instead of having access to the first $300, we'll only have access to the first $200.

My brother's BMO account, on the other hand, has interest on his chequeing account, and a $2 monthly fee. :shrug: Apparently if you open an account as a teenager it's dirt cheap.

Also, to serve me better, they closed the branch that is a 10 minute walk from my apartment and replaced it with a branch that is a 15 minute bike ride away from my apartment along a busy four lane road. RBC was even worse: The closest RBC branch to me now is more than four miles away! Scotiabank and CIBC are the only banks left in Thunder Bay with downtown branches. Fortunately, neither one has plans to relocate in the near future.

[Mrs Sauga]

Only Toronto and Montreal have great RBC offices. (and even PVM has its share of haters) The rest are ugly. Some of them even look like suburban medical office buildings. And this is Canada's #1 bank right?

[roccerfeller]

My favourite stopped being the head office in the early 1960s. The most beautiful Royal Bank branch of them all closed permanently (with a whimper) one week ago.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4017/4380580915_a993bb5ec2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4380580915/)
Vieux Montréal, fév. 2010. Rue Saint-Pierre >Nord, depuis Place D'Youville. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/4380580915/) by DubyDub2009 (http://www.flickr.com/people/urbexplo/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2511/3832695509_21836a5289_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3832695509/)
Montreal - Vieux Montréal: Tour de la Banque Royale (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3832695509/) by wallyg (http://www.flickr.com/people/wallyg/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2788/4439719446_03bbaae484_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/normanimperatoriphotography/4439719446/)
Old clock on St. Jacques (http://www.flickr.com/photos/normanimperatoriphotography/4439719446/) by Norman Imperatori (http://www.flickr.com/people/normanimperatoriphotography/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2589/3833489926_250295fec5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3833489926/)
Montreal - Vieux Montréal: Tour de la Banque Royale (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/3833489926/) by wallyg (http://www.flickr.com/people/wallyg/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7305800944_ca893b9d7d_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7077/7305796084_e18f0f22e6_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7230/7305798672_023f36cf04_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8162/7305806090_b2e6b95881_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7223/7305808444_1c7d513d59_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/7305811710_b08374e812_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7305814654_279d784bf4_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7305820324_042cfdeb73_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8016/7305823182_91cd65aa9f_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7084/7305825438_7f874a6466_c.jpg

(my photos - July 2010)

Wow....

stunning.


Can this one still count as best RBC building?

[artvandelay]

Only Toronto and Montreal have great RBC offices. (and even PVM has its share of haters) The rest are ugly. Some of them even look like suburban medical office buildings. And this is Canada's #1 bank right?

Bankers Hall in Calgary begs to differ:

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4112/4969552451_27e46682e4_z.jpg
by robsonmcunha on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/robsonmcunha/4969552451/)

[Phil McAvity]

I think the TO tower wins hands down, although Place Ville Marie is nice. Vancouver's is pathetic.

[roccerfeller]

I used to deal with RBC and their in-person customer service is total shit. It's like they purposefully look for the most uptight and rude people to work their counters.

Agreed. RBC has horrible customer service. But they're so huge that they don't seem to care lol.

I didn't mind TD when I had an account with them, most of my stuff is done via Scotiabank now.

[Mrs Sauga]

I didn't know Bankers Hall was RBC's Calgary office. In that case, I'd rank:

Toronto
Calgary
Montreal

Thought PVM and Bankers Hall are soo close in quality.

I agree that Vanouver's is pathetic.

[MolsonExport]

RBC is nothing compared to CIBC. The latter is the lowest of the low, on every indicator.

[Chadillaccc]

I think the TO tower wins hands down, although Place Ville Marie is nice. Vancouver's is pathetic.

I would hardly call either of Vancouver's RBC towers pathetic or anything of the like...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7626451052_c2d24d708d.jpg


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7626450410_9ba4fc26fd.jpg

[Rico Rommheim]

Yeah I always liked the modern RBC skyscraper in vancouver. Pathetic? Come on.

Now, TD's tower in montreal is pathetic, BMO's tower in Montreal is pathetic.

[Alexcaban]

I happen to think that BMO is a pretty good bank, and trust me I've dealt with the other 4,
RBC being the worst.

[haljackey]

Surprised you didn't include the RBC tower in London:

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/7932979.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7932979

It had a big impact on the skyline in the 1970's, now it's about middle of the park.

[Phil McAvity]

I would hardly call either of Vancouver's RBC towers pathetic or anything of the like...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7626451052_c2d24d708d.jpg

Yeah I always liked the modern RBC skyscraper in vancouver. Pathetic? Come on.


Okay, name one redeeming feature of this building.

[Rico Rommheim]

Okay, name one redeeming feature of this building.

Sheer verticality contrasted with the horizontal aesthetic of the windows. Works with me.

[The_Architect]

I must be the only one who hasn't had bad customer service that I can remember in 13 years at RBC...

[Chadillaccc]

Okay, name one redeeming feature of this building.

I'll name one about the Royal Centre if you can name one about Bankers Hall?


I just like the building dude. Very simple, almost spartan and has a great presence in the financial core of Vancouver. Having lived there for 2 years, I saw the building and admired it quite a few times.

I never said it's the best... however, it is certainly not pathetic




edit: the only redeeming quality I know of the Bankers Hall is the original 5 storey terracotta facade on the east tower podium, beautifully preserved and right on Steven Ave too...

[Innsertnamehere]

I must be the only one who hasn't had bad customer service that I can remember in 13 years at RBC...

You probably just have a good branch.

[The_Architect]

You probably just have a good branch.

Multiple branches actually (in Oakville, Waterloo, Toronto), and have only received good service in Royal Bank Plaza too. Maybe I'm just lucky with who I've dealt with? I know immediate family members have had a couple times they weren't impressed.

[Phil McAvity]

the only redeeming quality I know of the Bankers Hall is the original 5 storey terracotta facade on the east tower podium, beautifully preserved and right on Steven Ave too...

Bankers Hall also has a interesting top/roof that harkens back to decades before. I didn't know it was the Calgary RBC headquarters either but now that I do I would place it ahead of Place Ville Marie in Montreal but both are still architectural light years ahead of Vancouver's.

"sheer verticality" and "spartan" are the only words you guys could come up with to put a positive spin on the incredibly boring white rectangle that is Vancouver's RBC Building. In other words, it's tall and featureless. Fascinating. :rolleyes:

[Andrewjm3D]

Sheer verticality contrasted with the horizontal aesthetic of the windows. Works with me.

I like it to, it's like a mini FCP minus the corner offices.

[Rico Rommheim]

"sheer verticality" and "spartan" are the only words you guys could come up with to put a positive spin on the incredibly boring white rectangle that is Vancouver's RBC Building. In other words, it's tall and featureless. Fascinating. :rolleyes:

Your high horse attitude in regards to your own personal tastes have been noted, thank you. Now give it a rest.

[Andrewjm3D]

How long until somebody starts a Scotia Bank, CIBC, and/or a BMO thread/s.

[Chadillaccc]

Your high horse attitude in regards to your own personal tastes have been noted, thank you. Now give it a rest.

Seriously right?

[artvandelay]

How long until somebody starts a Scotia Bank, CIBC, and/or a BMO thread/s.

We should have an SSP Major Canadian Bank Regional Office tournament! With brackets and a knockout round. It would be off the hook, as the kids say.

[Rico Rommheim]

We should have an SSP Major Canadian Bank Regional Office tournament! With brackets and a knockout round. It would be off the hook, as the kids say.

Montreal wins the Desjardins Bank and National Bank and Laurentien Bank episodes. No contest.

[Chadillaccc]

Oh the Laurentian Bank tower is actually quite nice! I remember when Laurentian Bank was in Ontario (not just Ottawa)... it was my first bank account ever when I was like 4 years old in 1994, prolly shortly before it left the province.

The Desjardins tower, however, leaves something to be desired. I think the new one in QC will be nicer... won't it?

Hmmm... I see Desjardins is growing pretty rapidly. Possibly a new member of the Big Five (obviously renamed big six)?... they have nearly 200 billion in assets as of this year, grew by 40 billion dollars in the last four years... and since this year are now in all of the Western and Central provinces, the only provinces they aren't in are Nova Scotia, PEI and NFLD. The next largest one in the country is CIBC with 353 billion in assets.

[kw5150]

I'll name one about the Royal Centre if you can name one about Bankers Hall?


I just like the building dude. Very simple, almost spartan and has a great presence in the financial core of Vancouver. Having lived there for 2 years, I saw the building and admired it quite a few times.

I never said it's the best... however, it is certainly not pathetic




edit: the only redeeming quality I know of the Bankers Hall is the original 5 storey terracotta facade on the east tower podium, beautifully preserved and right on Steven Ave too...

And the giant glass "tubes" up at the top of both towers are really amazing vaulted spaces. Bankers Hall is a nice building and completely clad in spanish granite. Dont kid yourselves people!

[kw5150]

Agreed. RBC has horrible customer service. But they're so huge that they don't seem to care lol.

I didn't mind TD when I had an account with them, most of my stuff is done via Scotiabank now.

RBC has the best customer service I have ever experienced. I think they are just friendlier out here in Calgary judging by the seemingly unfounded comments here...............weird. I really like RBC. The tellers are amazing, especially at the bankers hall downtown location.

[davidivivid]

Montreal wins the Desjardins Bank and National Bank and Laurentien Bank episodes. No contest.

Well, the current HQ tower of the National Bank in Montreal is indeed nicer than the regional office in Quebec City. However, the National Bank tower in Quebec is in dire need of a reclad and if done properly, it could give Montreal a run for its money!


http://www.quebecurbain.qc.ca/archives/banque-nationale.jpg
http://www.quebecurbain.qc.ca/categorie/scenes-urbaines/page/39/


http://www.mensuel.ca/attachments/Image/Observatoire/Place_royale2_125.JPG
http://www.mensuel.ca/observatoire-de-la-capitale-ediffice-marie-guyart.html


All that being said, without contest ( ;) ) the nicest National Bank building is its historic HQ in Quebec City since, as Desjardins, it was founded here! It is a hotel now however.


http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2477/5845656799_fe617f8ab1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidivivid/5845656799/)
Hôtel Le 71 - Ancien siège social de la Banque Nationale (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidivivid/5845656799/) par davidivivid (http://www.flickr.com/people/davidivivid/), sur Flickr


http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2569/5845655999_1310cb6ed4_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidivivid/5845655999/)
Hôtel Le 71 - Ancien siège social de la Banque Nationale (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidivivid/5845655999/) par davidivivid (http://www.flickr.com/people/davidivivid/), sur Flickr

[kw5150]

Multiple branches actually (in Oakville, Waterloo, Toronto), and have only received good service in Royal Bank Plaza too. Maybe I'm just lucky with who I've dealt with? I know immediate family members have had a couple times they weren't impressed.

Maybe you are the most polite? I get good service everywhere, it is how you approach the person.

[Mrs Sauga]

How long until somebody starts a Scotia Bank, CIBC, and/or a BMO thread/s.

They're on their way

[Chadillaccc]

And the giant glass "tubes" up at the top of both towers are really amazing vaulted spaces. Bankers Hall is a nice building and completely clad in spanish granite. Dont kid yourselves people!

Yeah I never said it's not nice. It's just too much. I prefer the more spartan and imposing design of the Royal Centre over the "set-backs for the sake of set-backs" and different window styles all over the tower that Bankers Hall is.

[kw5150]

Yeah I never said it's not nice. It's just too much. I prefer the more spartan and imposing design of the Royal Centre over the "set-backs for the sake of set-backs" and different window styles all over the tower that Bankers Hall is.

I just think that if bankers hall was in any other city, people would like it. Its a nice building. It especially looks good from the south side.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Bankers-Hall-Szmurlo.jpg/393px-Bankers-Hall-Szmurlo.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/Bankers-Hall-Szmurlo.jpg/393px-Bankers-Hall-Szmurlo.jpg

[Chadillaccc]

Why would that be the case? I live in Calgary and love tons of the buildings here.

[artvandelay]

I like Banker's Hall, but I have a couple problems with it:

- Not a fan of the cladding on the roof, it cheapens the look of the buildings - looks like something you'd see on an industrial warehouse
- The different colour glass/roofing on each building. The beige/gold tint on the West tower just makes the building look like it's in constant need of cleaning.

[Phil McAvity]

Yeah I never said it's not nice. It's just too much. I prefer the more spartan and imposing design of the Royal Centre over the "set-backs for the sake of set-backs" and different window styles all over the tower that Bankers Hall is.

So you prefer buildings that have no architectural features over those that do? :shrug:

You probably don't like the Chrysler Building either.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s228/chach-52/chrysler.jpg

I'm really trying not to be self-righteous but I just cannot understand this type of thinking.

It's too bad this thread didn't come with a poll because I would rank them 1-Toronto 2-Calgary 3-Montreal. As for the rest of them, let's just say Chadillac probably loves them.

[jeremy_haak]

I'm generally not a fan of postmodern architecture, though Bankers Hall is a fine example and I prefer it over the Royal Centre in Vancouver. You're presenting a false dichotomy though. I could just as easily throw this right back at you:

Lack of "architectural features":
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/NewYorkSeagram_04.30.2008.JPG/400px-NewYorkSeagram_04.30.2008.JPG

vs.

Skads of "architectural features":
http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2009_3rd/HILTON_NiagaraFallsExterior.jpg

The point being, lack of ornamentation doesn't necessarily reflect on the merit of a building.

[MTLskyline]

The Old Montreal offices for Scotiabank, RBC (former) and TD.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3024/oldmontrealoffices1.jpg

(my photo)

[Chadillaccc]

So you prefer buildings that have no architectural features over those that do? :shrug:

You probably don't like the Chrysler Building either.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s228/chach-52/chrysler.jpg

I'm really trying not to be self-righteous but I just cannot understand this type of thinking.

It's too bad this thread didn't come with a poll because I would rank them 1-Toronto 2-Calgary 3-Montreal. As for the rest of them, let's just say Chadillac probably loves them.

hahahahaha it's just funny that you just compared the Chrysler Building to Bankers Hall. Because I don't care for Bankers Hall that must mean that I hate one of the most beautiful art deco skyscrapers ever built. Okay buddy haha! :P Way to not sound self-righteous.

[The_Architect]

I can't get a picture obviously so I'm going to post the streetview.

The RBC building in downtown Oakville (at the most significant corner too):

http://i.imgur.com/JAFu9.png

[Dwils01]

RBC has some office space in the north end of the city. Typical suburban office building though.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m498/DWils01/Sault%20Ste%20Marie/DSC03866.jpg

The main branch downtown is one of my favourites in the city.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m498/DWils01/Sault%20Ste%20Marie/DSC03877.jpg

Pictures by me.

My favourite RBC Buildings are:
Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Winnipeg

[White Pine]

The Ottawa one is actually pretty interesting from some angles. More pics of it needed here. Shame they closed the old one.

[O-Town Hockey]

The Ottawa one is actually pretty interesting from some angles. More pics of it needed here. Shame they closed the old one.

I believe the weird design has to do with some very specific bylaws about sunlight reaching the Sparks Street pedestrian mall at certain times of day. It doesn't really fit in with the rest of Sparks, but is one of the more interesting building in the otherwise quite banal Ottawa downtown.

The Thomas Darcy McGee building at 90 Sparks:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/90_Sparks_Street.jpg/800px-90_Sparks_Street.jpg
from Wikipedia

http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/ANB1527.jpg
from www.worldofstock.com

[SignalHillHiker]

The main RBC branch in St. John's, Newfoundland.

http://i50.tinypic.com/sp7yhz.png