COVID-19: Restoring Richmond
Find out which City Services & Facilities are open.

Latest updates

menu
  • Font Size:
  • A
  • A
  • A
Sign Up
Online Heritage Inventory

No. 1 Road Pumpstation

General Information
Thumbnail photograph of No. 1 Road Pumpstation
Click to see full image
Type of Resource: Artifact
Common Name: Discharge Structures
Address: Foot of No 1 Road
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): Steveston
Construction Date: 1906-1978
Current Owner: Municipal Government
Designated: No

Statement of Significance
Description of Site
This statement of significance describes one pump station as a representation of Richmond’s city-wide storm drainage system. As part of this system, the No. 1 Road South Discharge Station is located at the south foot of No. 1 Road at Bayview Street and consists of below-grade pumps, drainage pipes and the utilitarian pumpstation building. By necessity, it is located on the edge of the South Arm, above a riprap edge. These structures are sited where they are needed and create an organized pattern around the city.

 Statement of Values
The No. 1 Road pumpstation has historic, symbolic and scientific significance. This pumpstation, and most of the others in the city system, exists today in the same location as the original drainage works. This particular pumpstation marks the end of No. 1 Road and is familiar landmark which identifies drainage patterns in the neighbourhood. The pumpstations that dot the Richmond landscape are a visual and technological reminder of the historic efforts undertaken to dyke and drain the land. They are cultural landscape features, which show patterns of human interaction with the land, and act as familiar visual beacons. These Pumpstations are part of a city-wide pattern of historical importance.

 Character Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include:
· No. 1 Road pumpstation as part of the pattern of pumpstations located at regular intervals around the perimeter of Lulu and Sea Islands
· Its location and symbolism as a representation of the first floodbox in this location and of the historic need to drain the land
· Its historic role as the main destination for stormwater through the southwest section of Lulu Island which flows through the main drainage canal south along No. 1 Road
· The utilitarian nature of the structure and the drainage pump which operates below grade and out of sight.

 History
This statement of significance describes one pump station as a representation of Richmond’s city-wide storm drainage system. As part of this system, the No. 1 Road South Discharge Station is located at the south foot of No. 1 Road at Bayview Street and consists of below-grade pumps, drainage pipes and the utilitarian pumpstation building. By necessity, it is located on the edge of the South Arm, above a riprap edge. These structures are sited where they are needed and create an organized pattern around the city.

 Architectural Significance
Architectural Style
Utilitarian

 Building Type
Water Works

 Name of Architect or Builder
City of Richmond

 Design Features
This simple, utilitarian building is rectangular in plan with a long facade and a concrete foundation. Its structure is concrete with pre-cast concrete masonry brick cladding in two colours: brown panels on tan background. The roof is flat and constructed of concrete with tar and gravel roofing. This station was one of a number of stations that were built around the same time; design considerations were left up to the architect and were probably dictated by functional requirements. There is an access door on the East side of the building.
New designs underway indicate the building will acquire a peaked corrugated metal roof and wood cladding.

 Construction Method
Concrete block masonry.

 Landscape Significance
(No information available)

 Integrity
Alterations
There has been a complete alteration in the built form and character of the drainage works at this location from early in the century, due to necessity and technological change. However, there have been no significant alterations to the Pumpstation as constructed in 1978.

 Original Location
Yes.

 Condition
The City’s drainage structures are maintained in excellent condition.

 Lost
No

 Documentation
Evaluated By
Denise Cook, BLA, PBD (Public History)

 Date
Monday, September 24, 2001

 Documentation
Documents
Bob Ransford, Heritage Advisory Commission. ‘Number One Road South Drainage Structure’, heritage information form, 1998.
Dykes and Ditches Research File, Heritage Advisory Commission sous-fonds, Location #6156, Richmond Archives.
Eric Gilfillan, Director of Operations, City of Richmond. Personal communication.
Kidd, Thomas. History of Lulu Island and Occasional Poems, Wrigley Printing Company Ltd., 1927. University of British Columbia Special Collections.
Pat Talmey, City of Richmond. Personal communication.
“Richmond Drainage is Benefited by Pumps”. Marpole-Richmond Review, May 27, 1936. p.2., Dykes and Drainage Reference Files, Richmond Archives.
Richmond Heritage Inventory update, 2000.
Ross, Leslie. Richmond, Child of the Fraser, Richmond ’79 Centennial Society, 1979.

 Back to Search Results
Back to Search
Print Back to top