Founded in 1997, Totalconnect embraced the opportunity to utilize a high-speed optical laser network extension from the rooftop of the IBM Tower at 609 Granville St. to the rooftop of 425 Carrall St. The 155 Mbit/s OC3 delivered some of the fastest internet service in Vancouver to the building occupants at 425 Carrall Street. Within the building Totalconnect delivered 100Mbps Network connectivity to a large static client base. Further, our partnership with California Microwave, enabled Totalconnect to bring state of the art Wireless relay services to a wide variety of customers utilizing a rooftop to rooftop network.
The BC Gas & Electric Building, located at 425 Carrall Street in Vancouver, has a fascinating history. Originally known as the BC Electric Railway Company Terminal, it was constructed in 1911. This six-story building, designed in the Second Empire Renaissance style by architects Woodruff Marbery Somervell and John L. Putnam, served as a key hub for Vancouver’s extensive interurban tram system. The building was both a terminus for major interurban rail lines and the company’s offices, accommodating up to 300 employees. Two of the main tramlines, the Central Park-Fraser Valley line and the Burnaby Lake line, terminated here, making it a bustling center of activity. The ground floor even featured a tram station for public use. By the late 1940s, the building’s role began to change as the BC Electric Railway Company transitioned from rail to trolley buses. The large openings that once allowed streetcars to pass through were converted into windows, and the building’s core use shifted. Eventually, BC Electric rebranded as BC Hydro and moved to a new location. In the late 90s the Building owner created a technology incubator for small start up Tech companies. Today, the building stands as a historical landmark, reflecting Vancouver’s rich transit history and architectural heritage.
In the early 2000s, Totalconnect relocated its Data Centre from 425 Carrall Street to the 21st floor of Harbour Centre, becoming one of the first customers of Peer1. Partnering with Shane Burnstun and Eddie Wong of Fairview Wireless, Totalconnect provided rooftop Wireless ISP (WISP) services to high-volume customers in Vancouver through its rooftop antenna arrays. Notable clients included Rain Maker Studios, Travel Live, Net2TV, WIBN (The World Internet Broadcasting Network), Number 5 Orange, and various DRM and cryptographic security companies. Our team ensured secure Internet access, both fibre/wired and wireless mesh, for the 2005 ICANN Vancouver Conference.
Totalconnect also delivered secure access solutions for hospitals and long-term care facilities, ensuring the protection of patient care records, staff scheduling, and payroll systems through both wireless and landline connections.
Harbour Centre in Vancouver is a notable skyscraper with a rich history.
Designed by WZMH Architects, Harbour Centre was completed in 1977. It features a Brutalist/Modernist architectural style and stands at 147 meters (482 feet) tall. The site was originally home to Spencer’s Department Store, which was demolished to make way for the new building. The building was initially known as the Sears Tower and included the revolving Harbour House Restaurant, now the Top of Vancouver. Harbour Centre quickly became a prominent landmark in Vancouver, known for its distinctive “Lookout” tower, which offers a 360-degree viewing deck and a revolving restaurant. It was the tallest building in British Columbia until 2009. The Vancouver Lookout, located atop the Harbour Centre, was officially opened by astronaut Neil Armstrong on August 13, 1977. His footprint was imprinted in cement and displayed on the observation deck.
Today, Harbour Centre houses various businesses, including tech firms and the downtown campus of Simon Fraser University. It remains a key part of Vancouver’s skyline and a popular tourist attraction.
In 2006, Totalconnect migrated its carrier services to the Spencer Building Data Centre. There, we partnered with industry leaders such as SaskTel, Navigata, Distributel, and Bell. Carrier diversity, a key telecommunications practice, adds an extra layer of network dependability by utilizing separate and diverse fiber and facilities from multiple carriers. This approach ensures that businesses maintain network connectivity even during outages by contracting multiple redundant connections.
On July 15th, 2008, an electrical short caused a massive underground fire in Vancouver, disrupting many downtown service providers for Internet, web hosting, and telecom services. Thanks to our multi-redundant backup generators and multiple redundant upstream carriers, Totalconnect customers remained unaffected by this incident.
The Spencer Building in Vancouver is an iconic structure with a rich history. Originally constructed in 1925-26, it was first used as Spencer’s Department Store. Over the years, the building has been repurposed and now serves as a key part of the city’s Harbour Centre.
The Spencer Building is known for its art deco architecture, which adds a historic charm to downtown Vancouver. Today, it houses the Spencer Building Carrier Hotel, a state-of-the-art data center that plays a crucial role in the region’s digital infrastructure. This facility combines heritage architecture with cutting-edge technology, making it a central hub for connectivity and innovation in Vancouver.
