VICTORIA, B.C., November 4, 2026 - Redbrick, a B Corp Certified group of companies, has unveiled new architectural renderings and preliminary plans for Westholme, a proposal for a landmark hotel at the corner of Government Street and Pandora Avenue in downtown Victoria.
The designs were presented at an open house on November 3, where community members and stakeholders had the opportunity to learn more and provide feedback on the project. Westholme is a locally-led development by Redbrick in collaboration with Victoria-based Aryze, with architectural design by internationally renowned firm Olson Kundig.
The proposed design celebrates the natural landscape, culture, and art of the Pacific Northwest while responding to the historic character of Victoria’s downtown. At street level, active public spaces revitalize a vacant corner while bringing year-round foot traffic to neighbouring businesses. Above, quieter hospitality and wellness floors add much-needed hotel capacity, supporting visitors, local jobs, and long-term investment in the north end of downtown.
“We’ve called downtown Victoria home for 15 years. Seeing the vision for Westholme take shape is very exciting for all of our team and the community,” said Tobyn Sowden, CEO of Redbrick. “With partners Olson Kundig and Aryze, we have an opportunity to create something that reflects Victoria’s character and brings new life to a prominent downtown corner. We want Westholme to be more than a hotel, but a place that welcomes both visitors and locals and contributes to the city’s future.”
The proposed hotel would feature 198 guest rooms, a ground-floor lounge, meeting facilities open to locals and visitors, and a public plaza with wider sidewalks, seating and landscaping. Plans also include a publicly accessible rooftop restaurant and bar overlooking downtown Victoria and the Inner Harbour, alongside a spa offering therapist-led treatments and self-guided thermal circuits.
The project takes its name from the original Westholme Hotel, which opened in 1911 on the same stretch of Government Street. The prominent downtown site has remained vacant since a fire destroyed the previous building in 2019. Located near Centennial Square, Chinatown and the emerging Industry, Arts, and Innovation District, Westholme is intended to bring renewed activity to this part of downtown.
The proposal also responds to a critical need for visitor accommodations, with the region’s hotel supply having dropped nearly 25% since 2016. The Greater Victoria Hotel Development Working Group projects demand for approximately 2,000 net new hotel rooms over the next decade, while the City's Official Community Plan targets 1,500 new hotel rooms by 2035.
Redbrick encourages community members to visit westholmehotel.com to sign up for project updates and stay informed about future engagement opportunities, feedback sessions, and key proposal milestones. Questions and feedback can also be directed to community@westholmehotel.com.