Vancouver bus shelter gets apocalyptic decay look to promote 'The Last of Us' | Daily Hive

Granville Street bus shelter in Vancouver gets apocalyptic decay makeover to promote 'The Last of Us'

TransLink bus stop on Granville Street near Robson Street in downtown Vancouver with apocalyptic decay makeover to promote Season 2 of "The Last of Us." (Kenneth Chan)

No, this bus stop shelter is not poorly maintained.

A bus shelter in downtown Vancouver has undergone an eye-catching immersive makeover, turning heads along Granville Street with a unique blend of urban street furniture and post-apocalyptic decay.

To mark the upcoming release of the second season of The Last of Us, a highly acclaimed HBO series filmed extensively in Vancouver, a TransLink bus shelter just north of the intersection of Granville and Robson Street — next to the former Nordstrom building — has been transformed into a striking promotional installation.

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This particular Granville Street bus stop shelter is served by half a dozen bus routes that operate up to a combined total of roughly 80 buses per hour during peak periods, moving about 25,000 bus passengers per day. This is in addition to the street segment’s high pedestrian traffic. Although it supports a TransLink service, street furniture, such as bus stops, is under the jurisdiction of the City of Vancouver, which contracts a company to oversee the installation, operation, and maintenance of the fixtures, including the management of advertising revenue opportunities.

The shelter appears overtaken by nature, with artificial vines, moss, grime, and other fake plant overgrowth spilling over the structure — an eerie nod to the show’s iconic world where civilization has crumbled and nature reclaims the remnants of human society.

translink vancouver granville street bus stop shelter the last of us

TransLink bus stop on Granville Street near Robson Street in downtown Vancouver with apocalyptic decay makeover to promote Season 2 of “The Last of Us.” (Kenneth Chan)

Alongside the lifelike greenery, the shelter features a large-format poster promoting Season 2 of the series. Season 2 features seven episodes; the first episode premiered on April 13, and the season finale will air on May 25, 2025.

The marketing stunt blends seamlessly into the gritty urban setting while evoking the haunting aesthetic familiar to fans of the franchise.

With Vancouver playing a central role as the primary filming location for the second season, the city has doubled as numerous post-outbreak locales in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Season 2 of this series was one of the most expensive productions ever filmed in British Columbia.

The Last of Us became a global hit after debuting in early 2023, praised for its emotional storytelling, world-building, and faithful adaptation of the popular video game series. Season 2 delves deeper into the storylines, with Vancouver’s urban core, back alleys, and forested outskirts serving as the perfect canvas for the dystopian narrative.

TransLink bus stop on Granville Street near Robson Street in downtown Vancouver with apocalyptic decay makeover to promote Season 2 of “The Last of Us.” (Kenneth Chan)

Filming of Season 2 of “The Last of Us” in May 2024 in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan)

Filming of Season 2 of “The Last of Us” in May 2024 in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan)

Immersive advertising is rapidly gaining traction as brands seek more impactful and memorable ways to connect with audiences in an increasingly saturated media landscape.

By transforming everyday spaces — such as bus shelters, building facades, and public plazas — into interactive or visually striking experiences, marketers can evoke curiosity, emotional engagement, and social media buzz. This experiential approach blurs the line between advertising and art, often tapping into pop culture and storytelling to leave a lasting impression.

There have been a few local notable examples of such advertising campaigns.

In 2022, as an Instagram-worthy installation, Walt Disney Studios Canada installed a temporary oversized green-coloured bench on West Cordova Street outside of Waterfront Station to creatively promote Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law television series on Disney+.

And in 2005, “$3 million” of cash was placed inside a bus shelter’s glass case near Victory Square, enticing people to smash 3M’s protective security film for windows and other glass surfaces to demonstrate the product’s durability against vandalism. However, in reality, as it was later shared, only $500 of real money was inside the case, and the remainder was fake money. The real money was placed on top.

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Giant green bench outside Waterfront Station in Vancouver in August 2022 to promote “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” (Kenneth Chan)

she hulk disney plus vancouver bench august 2022 1

Giant green bench outside Waterfront Station in Vancouver in August 2022 to promote “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.” (Kenneth Chan)

3m bus stop vancouver $3 million three million dollars marketing stunt

“$3 million” inside a Vancouver bus stop to test a 3M security film. (Rethink Communications)

3m security glass vancouver bus stop three million dollars

“$3 million” inside a Vancouver bus stop to test a 3M security film. (Rethink Communications)

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