Dozens of stolen bikes seized in one Vancouver's biggest raids will find a temporary home on the country's largest holding rack, housed in one of two new investigative facilities unveiled Tuesday.

Officers were responding to a call at the Arco Hotel at 83 West Pender St. Friday when they stumbled across 62 stashed bikes and bundles of rims, frames and tires.

Police said a "chop shop" was most likely rebuilding frames with mixed parts and selling the unidentifiable bikes on Craigslist.

The bikes nearly filled a brand new conveyor rack that can hold to 600 bikes at a time in Vancouver Police Department's new property and forensic storage facility on Glen Drive.

Vancouver police unveiled the building to media on Tuesday, giving a one-time tour of the high-security facilities celebrating the launch of the department's new office at 3585 Graveley Street. The new buildings cost a combined $45 million to build.

Highlights of the police tour included the Stanley Cup riot evidence holding room, blood drying lockers and dangerous weapon seizures.

Chief Jim Chu said the forensic investigation buildings are state-of-the-art and unrivalled across Canada.

"All of our recent hires and those who join us in coming years will only know these modern structures unlike many of us that are here today," he said. "We worked in facilities that were less than satisfactory and it did interfere in the efficiency and effectiveness of officers."

Mayor Gregor Robertson said the office upgrades were essential because "operations were bursting at the seams" at the previous 60-year-old building.

"It will strengthen the work of the Vancouver Police Department and ensure that they have the best facilities and possible tools to serve our city and keep it safe," he said.

The province contributed $10 million and the federal government $15 million to complement the city's $20.3 million investment -- of which $10 million came directly from taxpayers.

The forensic centre and offices are the second phase of three in Vancouver's police infrastructure plan, and follow a regional training centre that recently opened adjacent to the forensic storage facility.