IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO
HERITAGE ACT
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.18 AND
CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
250 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE
THE PROPERTY
TAKE NOTICE that Council for the
City of Toronto intends to designate the property, including the lands, buildings
and structures thereon known municipally as 250 University Avenue under Part
IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.18, as amended, as
a property of cultural heritage value or interest.
Reasons for Designation
The property at 250 University Avenue is worth
of designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its
cultural heritage value, and meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the provincial
criteria prescribed for municipal designation under the criteria of design and
physical, historical and associative and contextual values
Description
Located on the southwest corner of University
Avenue and Queen Street West, the property at 250 University Avenue known as
the Bank of Canada Building contains an eight storey plus penthouse office
building constructed between 1955 and 1958, designed in the Neo-Georgian
architectural style by the architectural firm of Marani & Morris. Built as
the Toronto Agency offices for the Bank of Canada and housing additional space
for lease, the granite-clad building with fine detailing is situated
prominently on University Avenue and contributes to the ceremonial boulevard's
present-day character and formal landscape.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Design and Physical Value
The Bank of Canada Building at 250 University
Avenue has design and physical value as an excellent representative example of
a mid-20th century office building, designed in the Neo-Georgian architectural
style. The scale, form and massing of the building is emblematic of this
building type, occupying a full city block and commanding a strong presence on
the southwest corner of University Avenue and Queen Street West. The building's
Neo-Georgian architectural style is evident in the tripartite arrangement of
the primary (east) façade, the two side facades, and the restrained yet
high-quality materiality of the building's cladding. The building's design and
physical value is also related to its high degree of craftsmanship and artistic
merit, exhibited through the purposeful integration of art both on the exterior
and within the interior lobby, with works commissioned from and executed by
leading 20th century artists including Cleeve Horne, Louis Temporale, Alexander
Scott Carter, Stanley Arculus and Alan Caswell Collier. The building is also
reflective of the design intent of the University Avenue by-law, which sought
to establish a consistent streetscape and a high level of architectural design
along this ceremonial route.
Historical and Associative Value
The historical and associative value of the Bank
of Canada Building is apparent through its direct associations with the Bank of
Canada is a significant institution within the history of the Canada and which
has contributed significantly to the growth and development of Canada's economy
through the 20th century. The building retains features that reflect its
association with the Bank of Canada, including the federal coat of arms above
the primary entrance, and is a significant property that speaks to the presence
of the institution within Toronto.
The Bank of Canada Building is reflective of the
work of the architectural firm Marani & Morris, one of Toronto's leading
20th century modern architectural practices. Comprised of a partnership between
Ferdinand Herbert Marani and Robert Schofield Morris, the firm was a leading
proponent of conservative modernism in the mid-20th century, responsible for
numerous high quality projects for institutional and corporate clients. The
Bank of Canada Building is emblematic of the firm's high quality work, with a
decidedly modern massing and form that remains steeped in the principles of
classicism and an honesty of materials. The opening of the Bank of Canada
Building coincided with Robert Morris receiving the Gold Medal from the Royal
Institute of British Architects in 1958, and shortly before the promotion of
Marvin Francis Allan to partner in 1959. The firm continues to practice today
as RDHA.
Contextual Value
Contextually, the Bank of Canada Building at 250
University Avenue maintains and supports the character of the University Avenue
Precinct, one of Toronto's major streets and a significant ceremonial avenue
that is home to a collection of significant buildings associated with important
institutions in Toronto's history and constructed during the 20th century. The
Bank of Canada Building is historically and visually linked with its
surroundings, including the Confederation Life Building which was designed in
accordance with the University Avenue by-law, and the Superior Court of Justice
(formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Courthouse) , which was a commission of
Marani, Morris and Allan. It is also linked to the modernist design of
University Avenue, which was completed between 1960 and 1962 to the designs of
Dunnington-Grubb & Stensson. The building also contributes to the landmark
intersection of University Avenue and Queen Street West, and is one of the four
significant buildings at that intersection which reflect the history and
evolution of the area from the Town of York through to the present-day.
Heritage Attributes
Design and Physical Value
Attributes that contribute to the value of the
property at 250 University Avenue as representative of the Neo-Georgian
architectural style include:
·
The scale, form and
massing of the eight storey plus penthouse office building, situated on the
southwest corner of University Avenue and Queen Street West and occupying the
full block
·
The symmetrical
tripartite organization of the principal (east) façade, comprised of a distinct
base, shaft and capital and which features a prominent central frontispiece on
the ground floor
·
The shared design of
the two side (north and south) facades, which are articulated by granite
pilasters Scotstown granite spandrels
·
The two entrances on
the north façade, with their steel security grills.
·
The rear (west)
façade, which continues the regular fenestration of the principal (east) façade
·
The setback of the
principal (east) façade from the sidewalk, which is defined by low granite
planters running the length of the building on either side of the central
frontispiece
·
The use of granite
cladding, primarily Stanstead and Scotstown
·
The metal railings on
either side of the front entrance and that enclose the eight floor viewing
decks on the east and west façade
·
The regular rhythm of
fenestration, comprised of rectangular window openings set within recessed
granite window frames on the primary (east) and rear (west) facades, and
protruding granite window frames on the side (north and south) facades
·
The division of
windows on all facades of the building into six panes, which is repeated in the
division of the granite spandrel panels on the primary (east) façade and on the
north and south facades
·
The granite pilasters
on the north and south façades
·
The Scotstown granite
spandrels on the primary (east) and side (north and south) facades
·
The protruding
Scotstown granite frontispiece
·
The three sets of
doors on the principal (east) façade, comprised of a central revolving door and
two flanking double doors, with wooden handles, set behind metal frames with
steel security grills
·
The metal windows
deeply inset within the frontispiece on the principal (east) facade
·
The stylized metal
street numbers on either side of the front doors
Interior Attributes that contribute to the value
of 250 University Avenue as representative of the Neo-Georgian architectural
style include:
·
The entrance lobby,
accessed through three sets of doors on the primary (east) façade
·
The metal door frames
surrounding the three sets of entrance doors, with integrated air registers and
set within beige marble surrounds
·
The green terrazzo
flooring
·
The walnut panelling
within the entrance lobby
·
The elevator lobby,
with beige marble walls and green terrazzo flooring
·
The modernist clock
integrated within the end wall of the elevator lobby
·
The three sets of
metal elevator doors, etched with a subtle diamond pattern
Attributes that contribute to the value of the
property at 250 University Avenue as demonstrative of a high degree of
craftsmanship and artistic merit include:
·
The carved Canadian
coat of arms mounted above the front entrance designed by Alexander Scott
Carter and carved by Louis Temporale
·
The two bas-relief
sculptures designed by Cleeve Horne and carved by Louis Temporale
·
The triptych opposite
from the entrance door painted by Alan Caswell Collier and depicting a
representation of the Canadian landscape
·
The gold leaf gesso
heraldic shields of each province below a fine meander running the upper
perimeter of the main lobby, prepared by Stanley Arculus
Contextual Value
Attributes that contribute to the contextual
value of 250 University Avenue as maintaining and supporting the character of
the University Avenue precinct, and as being historically and visually linked
to its surroundings include:
·
The setback,
placement and orientation of the building, with its primary entrance on
University Avenue
Notice of Objection to the Notice of Intention to Designate
Notice of an objection to the Notice of
Intention to Designate the Property may be served on the City Clerk, Attention:
Administrator, Secretariat, City Clerk's Office, Toronto City Hall, 2nd Floor
West, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2; Email: hertpb@toronto.ca within thirty days of November 18, 2021, which is December 20, 2021.
The notice of objection to the Notice of Intention to Designate the Property
must set out the reason(s) for the objection and all relevant facts.
Getting Additional Information:
Further information in respect of the Notice of
Intention to Designate the Property is available from the City of Toronto at:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2021.PH27.12
Dated at the City of Toronto on November 18, 2021.
John D. Elvidge
City Clerk