Craig Baird
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thread 1/7
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Sam Kee Building in Vancouver is the narrowest commercial building in the world.

So, let's learn more about this very unique building!
10:30 AM - Apr 21, 2024
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Craig Baird
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The story of the Sam Kee Building begins in 1903 when Chang Toy (also known as Sam Kee) bought the standard-sized lot.

Nine years later, Vancouver expanded Pender Street and took 7.3 metres of the property for the street. Toy was offered the chance to buy a neighbour's lot but refused.
10:30 AM - Apr 21, 2024
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Craig Baird
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thread 3/7
A friend then bet him that he couldn't use the small piece of land he now owned for anything.
Toy took the man up on the bet and hired architects Brown and Gillam to build a commercial building on the lot.

They designed a narrow building that measured 1.
10:30 AM - Apr 21, 2024
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Craig Baird
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thread 4/7
5 metres wide on the ground floor and 1.83 metres wide on the second floor. The basement of the building is much wider and originally housed a public bath.

The main floor of the building was used for offices and shops, while the top floor was for living quarters.
10:30 AM - Apr 21, 2024
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Craig Baird
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thread 5/7
In 1986, the building went through a renovation and is now a tourist attraction. The building houses an insurance office today.

While Guinness has listed the building as the narrowest commercial building in the world, that has been challenged.
10:30 AM - Apr 21, 2024
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Craig Baird
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thread 6/7
The Skinny Building in Pittsburgh claims that only part of the Sam Kee building is narrow and the size varies from floor-to-floor.
In contrast, the Skinny Building is 1.57 metres wide on all floors.
10:30 AM - Apr 21, 2024
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Craig Baird
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thread 7/7
If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.c...
10:30 AM - Apr 21, 2024
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