Introduction
Welcome to the Battlestar Galactica Season 1 Locations Guide. This guide outlines all of the locations where the new Battlestar Galactica series shot.
The new series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This
became instantly apparent when a shot of "Cylon-occupied Caprica" featured a
ScotiaBank building in the episode Litmus. Finding the correct
ScotiaBank building then became a trivial matter. As the author was planning
a trip to Vancouver, he decided a good way to visit interesting places
around the city was to scavenge as many of the locations as possible. This
proved relatively simple, as most of the location work is grouped on the two
universities as well as several downtown locations. This makes sense from a
budgetary and planning point-of-view.
This page shows most of the locations used throughout the first season. Some locations, such as random city corners, alleys, and fields are not shown.
Note that the locations are in order by episode, the images are links to
larger versions, and the satellite link provides a Google Maps
image centered on the location in question. This allows for a virtual tour
of the locations. Some locations have multiple views. The screen captures
are taken from British skyone airings, as the DVD set was not out at
the time they were taken.
Simon Fraser University - Academic Quadrangle
Episodes: Miniseries, 1x12 - Kobol's Last Gleaming.
This scene appears several times in the miniseries, it is labeled "Riverwalk Market, Caprica City." While the skyline is altered in post-production, there are no substantial alterations to the physical location: some portable set items were brought in to make a market scene.
This area later appeared in the season-ending two-parter as the location where Helo shoots Sharon. This happens just outside the Quadrangle, and the alternate view shows some of the inside windows.
Simon Fraser University - Library
Episode: Miniseries.
The library is used in a short sequence where Baltar gloats to Number Six about his success in the defense project. That scene later walks over to within the Academic Quadrangle. Physically, the two buildings are located next to each other.
Bloedel Conservatory
Episode: Miniseries.
The Bloedel Conservatory is an indoor tropical habitat located in the southern region of Vancouver. The only set piece added was the bench upon which the little girl sits. The roof of the dome was modified in post-production to show a large window into space. A receptionist at the Conservatory verified this location.
Vancouver Public Library
Episode: 1x03 - Bastille Day.
This building appears very briefly as Helo and Sharon are on the run. To any architecture student, the famous building is an instant symbol of location work in Vancouver. The alternate view shows the northern exit that Helo and Sharon walk down. The show used a wide-lense, as the building is on a tight downtown lot.
Dominion Building
Episode: 1x06 - Litmus.
This scene was shot on a building rooftop to the East across the street from the Dominion Building. The building is immediately recognizable due to its unique red roof. The blue building seen in the background is the BC Hydro Building.
Credit for finding this location goes to Toby and Isaac. Ground view by Zhatt via Wikimedia Commons.
West Cordova Parking Garage Ramp
Episode: 1x09 - Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down.
This parking garage ramp can be seen in the satellite imagery to occupy the middle two lanes of West Cordova Street. The round green-glass building at the top of the ramp is the Fairmont Waterfront Building.
Thanks to Toby for helping find this location.
University of British Columbia - Rose Garden
Episode: 1x11 - Colonial Day.
The University of British Columbia has a well-maintained rose garden by the north-western parking garage entrance. The Canadian flag was removed, but the flag post is still visible in the background. In the final scene, some dome elements were added in post-production.
University of British Columbia - Chan Centre
Episode: 1x11 - Colonial Day.
Directly next to UBC's Rose Garden is the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. The scenic designer covered the building's title with a painted sheet, though the bottoms of the letters are still faintly visible in the screen capture. The indoor scenes in this episode were filmed inside the main lobby of the Chan Centre, as seen in the alternate image.
University of British Columbia - Koerner Library
Episode: 1x11 - Colonial Day.
The Koerner Library appeared very briefly as Helo runs from the Cylons and sees two Number Sixes. That entire sequence was shot in the vicinity of UBC's library.
Simon Fraser University - Transportation Centre
Episode: 1x13 - Kobol's Last Gleaming.
Labeled the Transportation Centre on the official SFU map, this building appears to be a student building or university centre. The area used has four staircases that descend into a pit area. Based on the direction of the supporting ceiling beams, the stairs used were either the ones photographed or the ones directly across. The area was decorated with debris.
Simon Fraser University - West Mall Centre
Episode: 1x13 - Kobol's Last Gleaming.
The spot where Starbuck lands the captured Cylon fighter is SFU's West Mall Centre with some added debris. The old concrete that forms all of the buildings at SFU is perfect for representing an abandoned city.
Vancouver Orpheum
Episode: 1x13 - Kobol's Last Gleaming.
satellite
lobby
theatre entrance
The very abstract final scenes of the season were filmed at the Vancouver Orpheum, in the very elaborate lobby and stage areas. The two alternate images show all of the relevant areas. Creative camera manoevers and a wide lens helped make the areas have even more grandeur.
copyright ©2005-2008 Pat Suwalski.