Sam Kee Building

Overview

The Sam Kee Building at 8 West Pender Street holds the Guinness World Record for the narrowest commercial building in the world. At just 1.8 metres (6 feet) deep, this steel-frame structure is a monument to spite and ingenuity.

Highlights

• Impossible Dimensions: Just 1.8 metres deep but 30 metres across, with bay windows overhanging the sidewalk.
• Glass Floor Panels: Sidewalk glass prisms channel light into the basement, borrowed from maritime engineering.
• Heritage Plaque: A Guinness World Records plaque on the exterior confirms its record.

History

In 1913, the City of Vancouver expropriated most of Chang Toy's property to widen the road, leaving a 1.5-metre strip. Toy hired architects Brown and Gillam to build on the remaining sliver, using bay windows and a basement tunnelled under the sidewalk with glass prisms for light.

Visitor Tips

• Quick Stop: A 30-second detour while exploring Chinatown.
• Combine With: Visit alongside the Millennium Gate and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, all within a 2-minute walk.
• Duration: 5–10 minutes.