Famously narrow Vancouver building becomes habitat for animatronic giant pandas

Rod Chow provided this photo of one of the animatronic giant pandas taking up residence in a Chinatown building.

A heritage building in Vancouver's Chinatown – touted as the world's skinniest – has been transformed into a bamboo-filled habitat for a family of animatronic giant pandas.

The Sam Kee Building has been home to Jack Chow Insurance since 1986. Its width at ground level is measured at just 4'11."

Rod Chow, who took over the business from his father, says the building's theme has always been "mini and skinny," with pint-sized pandas featuring heavily in the décor as a nod to their status as mascot for the community and official animal of China.

But the aesthetic now favours the gigantic, after Chow decided to commission five massive pandas that would take up permanent residence in the famously narrow historical building, which houses a fully functional insurance business in addition to drawing tourists.

"They're custom-made, one-of-a kind in the world. That's what makes them so special," Chow said, explaining that he commissioned their creation and was heavily involved in every step of the design process.

"I specified exactly what I wanted them to do. Each one has different movements and interacts with you differently."

While he couldn’t say exactly how much the creative endeavour cost, he did say it was very expensive to have the entire family of five – two parents, one child, and twin babies – built and delivered.

Chow said his vision was for an immersive experience that would transport visitors from the streets of the city into a plant-filled habitat.

"The building itself is an attraction. But inside the building is another attraction. People feel like they're somewhere else," he said.

Chow announced the opening of the new attraction Tuesday. Ticket prices range from $5 for a visit and a photo-op to $35 for a tour of the building complete with a meet-and-greet with the bears and a magic show.

Regular customers of the insurance business got a sneak peek before the official opening announcement, Chow said.

"Whenever clients come into the building, then there's an opportunity to give them a little treat. And they are so tickled when they see them," he told CTV News.

"And it's not only the kids, we have seniors that are 70, 80, 90 years old and they are so tickled when they see these pandas come to life. The reception has been so amazing."

Photo contributed by Rod Chow

Chow said he was inspired, in large part, by his father who he describes as a visionary and champion for Chinatown. The giant panda installation is something he hopes will continue his father's legacy of putting the neighbourhood on the map and drawing people to visit.

"Now there's another reason for people to come down to Chinatown to see something totally different. We've got giant pandas in Vancouver now!"

The question Chow says he gets most often is about how the pandas – which are taller than the building is wide – got inside. Chow, who is also a magician, declines to reveal that secret.

"We'll leave that a puzzle for people who come to visit," he said.

More information about the Jack Chow Giant Panda Habitat is available online.