Mall Podcast #9: Coquitlam Centre
On the surface, it may be a generic suburban shopping mall — but Coquitlam Centre has a fascinating mix of history, art, and questions on how 20th century malls can adapt for the 21st century.
The year was 1979, and the northeast section of Metro Vancouver was getting its first big mall.
At the intersection of two highways, and surrounded mostly by trees that the city was sizing up for brand new neighbourhoods, both the developer and the city thought this mall could transform the region like few malls in the region had.
And this would not be like any mall – it would have art. It would have giant stained glass windows. And it would be the first mall that would have all three Canadian retail giants of The Bay, Eatons, and Woodwards under one roof.
47 years later, those companies are part of the dustbin of history – but the stained glass windows are still here. Coquitlam Centre has survived.
But does it thrive?
Episode Guest: Vancouver architect and project manager John Roddick.
(To read our essay and review of Coquitlam Centre, click here)
(To subscribe to the podcast, click here)
Theme music composed by Tom Whalen, www.echomenace.com