The Alhambra Hotel was the most prominent tenant of the Byrne’s Block built in 1886, the same year the City of Vancouver was incorporated. Now considered one of Vancouver’s heritage gems, the restored Alhambra is one of only three buildings still largely intact from historic Gastown’s earliest days. The restoration and rehabilitation features retail spaces at ground level with the former hotel above transformed into commercial office use. Unique to the building is the brick-paved Gaoler’s Mews that winds through the site. A series of striking glazed contemporary interventions—elevator, bridge link and office addition—are set against the bright red brick of the original Byrne’s Block.