Canadian Bank of Commerce Building Heritage Property Plaque, 2006
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Resource ID
4851
Access
Open
Address
25 King Street West
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2006
Historical Themes
Program Category
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
Caption
Canadian Bank of Commerce Building Heritage Property Plaque, 2006
Description
1929-1931.
Upon completion this 34-storey skyscraper was the tallest in the British Empire and was praised as "the greatest addition to Toronto's increasing Manhattan-like skyline." It was designed for the Canadian Bank of Commerce jointly by the Toronto firm Darling and Pearson and by York & Sawyer the foremost New York City bank architects of the era. Rising in tiers the building features richly carved Romanesque Revival detailing and a vaulted Main Banking Hall said to be modelled after Rome's Baths of Caracalla. A popular outdoor observation gallery on the 32nd floor - guarded by great carved heads with flowing beards - gave the public unobstructed city views until even taller office towers were built in the 1960s. After the Commerce merged with the Imperial Bank of Canada in 1961 the building became the head office of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act 1991.
Marker lat / long: 43.648828, -79.37916 (WGS84)