Editing Vancouver Art Gallery

[[File:Caprica - Pilot - Caprica City Courthouse.png|thumb|The Vancouver Art Gallery's north facade as the Caprica City Courthouse in {{CAP|Pilot}}.]]

The '''Vancouver Art Gallery''' (VAG) is an art museum located at 750 Hornby Street in downtown [[w:Vancouver|Vancouver]], [[w:British Columbia|British Columbia]], Canada. The building occupies the block bounded by Georgia, Howe, Hornby, and Robson Streets and served as the principal courthouse of British Columbia from 1911 until 1979. It was used as a filming location for both the [[Re-imagined Series]] and ''[[Caprica (TV series)|Caprica]]'', primarily standing in for the [[Caprica City]] Courthouse.

== History of the building ==

Construction of the courthouse took place between 1907 and 1911. It was designed by [[w:Francis Rattenbury|Francis Mawson Rattenbury]] (1867–1935), a Victoria-based architect responsible for several prominent public buildings in British Columbia, including the Legislative Assembly building in Victoria. The courthouse opened in the fall of 1911 and was described at the time as the finest building of its kind in Canada.<ref group="external" name="parkscanada_vag_nhs_designation">{{cite web|url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=85#:~:text=courthouse%20was%20opened%20in%20the%20fall%20of%201911%2C%20at%20which%20time%20it%20was%20praised%20as%20the%20finest%20building%20of%20its%20kind%20in%20Canada|title=Former Vancouver Law Courts National Historic Site of Canada|publisher=Parks Canada|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

The building is designed in the Neoclassical style in the Beaux-Arts tradition. Its three-part composition features two wings faced with inset Ionic columns flanking a central projecting pediment, with an imposing portico supported by four columns and surmounted by a copper-clad dome. The exterior is clad in two types of stone: rusticated Nelson Island granite for the base and smooth Haddington Island stone for the upper levels. A pair of granite lions on pedestals, installed around 1910 and modeled on those in London's Trafalgar Square, flank the building's entrance stairs.<ref group="external" name="parkscanada_vag_character_elements">{{cite web|url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=85#:~:text=twin%20granite%20lions%20on%20pedestals%20ca.%201910%2C%20symbolizing%20British%20justice|title=Former Vancouver Law Courts National Historic Site of Canada|publisher=Parks Canada|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

By 1914 the building had been expanded with a west wing addition designed by architect Thomas Hooper. Trials continued to be held in the building until 1979, when new court facilities designed by [[w:Arthur Erickson|Arthur Erickson]] were completed across the street at Robson Square. Erickson was simultaneously commissioned to convert the former courthouse into the Vancouver Art Gallery; construction on the $20 million renovation began in December 1981 and the Vancouver Art Gallery opened in the building in 1983.<ref group="external" name="historicplacesdays_vag_erickson_conversion">{{cite web|url=https://historicplacesdays.ca/places/vancouver-art-gallery/#:~:text=Construction%20began%20on%20the%20%2420%20million%20redesign%20of%20the%20courthouse%20in%20December%201981|title=Vancouver Art Gallery|publisher=Historic Places Days|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

The building was designated the Former Vancouver Law Courts [[w:National Historic Site of Canada|National Historic Site of Canada]] on January 15, 1981.<ref group="external" name="parkscanada_vag_designation_date">{{cite web|url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=85#:~:text=Designation%20Date%3A%201981-01-15|title=Former Vancouver Law Courts National Historic Site of Canada|publisher=Parks Canada|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref> For film and event productions, the Gallery makes available its grand foyer and rotunda, two of the original historic courtrooms (complete with judge's stands and rich hardwoods), and its rooftop pavilion.<ref group="external" name="vag_eventrentals_filming">{{cite web|url=https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/event-rentals/#:~:text=two%20of%20the%20building%27s%20original%20historic%20courtrooms%2C%20complete%20with%20judge%27s%20stands%20and%20rich%20hardwoods|title=Event Rentals|publisher=Vancouver Art Gallery|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

== Use in the Re-imagined Series ==

The Vancouver Art Gallery was among the BSG franchise's filming locations in the [[Re-imagined Series]], listed alongside [[w:Simon Fraser University|Simon Fraser University]], the [[Orpheum Theatre]], and the [[Waterfall Building]] as a recurring production location.<ref group="production" name="latlong_rdm_locations_vag">{{cite web|url=https://www.latlong.net/location/battlestar-galactica-locations-598#:~:text=Vancouver%20Art%20Gallery|title=Battlestar Galactica Locations|publisher=latlong.net|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref> A 2010 cultural commentary on Vancouver filming noted the building's steps had appeared as courthouse steps across multiple genre productions shot in Vancouver, including BSG.<ref group="production" name="commarts_vancouver_bsg_vag_steps">{{cite web|url=https://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2010/02/21/vancouvers-finally-ready-for-its-close-up-mr-demille/#:~:text=Vancouver%20Art%20Gallery%27s%20steps%20have%20been%20many%20a%20courthouse%20steps|title=Vancouver's (Finally) Ready for its Close-up, Mr. DeMille|publisher=blog.commarts.wisc.edu|date=February 21, 2010|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

== Use in ''Caprica'' ==

The Vancouver Art Gallery served as the primary real-world location for the Caprica City Courthouse throughout the [[Caprica (TV series)|''Caprica'']] television series.

=== Interior: courtroom scenes ===

In the [[Pilot (Caprica)|pilot episode]], [[Joseph Adama]] is seen practicing law in one of the building's heritage courtrooms. visitcaprica.com identifies the specific room as one of the two original courtrooms available for event rental within the converted building.<ref group="production" name="mcleroy_visitcaprica_ep1_vag_courtroom_interior">{{cite web|url=http://www.visitcaprica.com/2011/01/episode-1-pilot.html#:~:text=room%20that%20is%20available%20for%20rent%20at%20the%20Vancouver%20Art%20Gallery|title=Episode 1: Pilot|author=McLeroy, Bart|publisher=visitcaprica.com|date=2011|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

=== Exterior: fountain and steps ===

The building's north facade, exterior fountain, and entry steps are seen in the [[Pilot (Caprica)|pilot episode]] when [[Joseph Adama]] and [[Sam Adama]] speak outside the courthouse following a legal proceeding. The fountain's distinctive radial pattern and the flanking granite lions are visible in these shots.<ref group="production" name="mcleroy_visitcaprica_ep1_vag_exterior_fountain">{{cite web|url=http://www.visitcaprica.com/2011/01/episode-1-pilot.html#:~:text=Joseph%20%26%20Sam%20are%20standing%20under%20the%20awning|title=Episode 1: Pilot|author=McLeroy, Bart|publisher=visitcaprica.com|date=2011|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

=== CGI aerial establishing shot ===

In "[[Blowback]]", the building appears in a digitally composed aerial establishing shot of Caprica City, with the distinctive copper dome and Beaux-Arts roofline visible in the composite image.<ref group="production" name="mcleroy_visitcaprica_ep14_vag_aerial_blowback">{{cite web|url=http://www.visitcaprica.com/2011/01/episode-14-blowback.html#:~:text=CGI%20aerial%20of%20the%20Vancouver%20Art%20Gallery|title=Episode 14: Blowback|author=McLeroy, Bart|publisher=visitcaprica.com|date=2011|accessdate=27 May 2026}}</ref>

== References ==

=== External Sources ===
{{reflist|group=external}}

=== Production History ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

== See also ==

* [[Filming locations (Caprica)]]
* [[Filming locations (RDM)]]
* [[Caprica City]]

[[Category:Caprica (TV series)]]
[[Category:Re-imagined Series]]
[[Category:Filming locations]]
[[Category:Places (RDM)]]
[[Category:Places (CAP)]]