Providence Academy

Iconic Vancouver building, with a rich history that is ready to make you part of the story.

Ground was broken for the House of Providence in 1873, even though the Sisters of Providence had not yet raised enough money for the entire building. In 1874, 100 orphans and the Sisters moved into the Academy even though the building was not finished. They operated here for many decades, adapting their services and the building as times changed. In 1917, there was no longer a need for them to house orphans as the provision of public social services had improved. In 1924, the Sisters moved their regional headquarters to Seattle, but the building continued to be in use as a school. Eventually, evolving trends in education meant that the building was no longer needed as a local parochial school. The Sisters began serious discussions about closing down and selling the building in the 1960s. The final class graduated in 1966. The site was on the market for several years, and the Academy threatened with demolition. Robert Hidden, a descendant of the family which made bricks for the now landmark, purchased the Academy in 1969 and gradually transformed it into offices, shops, restaurants, and event spaces. 

The Historic Trust ran a community-funded campaign between 2012 and 2015 to purchase the Academy for $10.6 million. Since then the organization has invested more than $18 million into preservation and maintenance to ensure that this building remains in use as a regional resource.

Today this building is home to many small and not so small business. With a renovated front landscape and walking distance to all that downtown Vancouver offers, locations in this stately building are a smart business decision. Conveniently located along transit lines with easy access to I-5 and SR 14, your clients will have no trouble locating you when you make this your business home.