IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO
HERITAGE ACT
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.18 AND
CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
39 WYNFORD DRIVE
(ENTRANCE ADDRESS 41 WYNFORD
DRIVE)
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 39 Wynford Drive (entrance address
41 Wynford Drive) 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
Description
The property at 39 Wynford Drive is located on
the southeast corner of Wynford Drive and Gervais Drive one block northeast of
Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road in the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood.
The property contains a 4-storey International-Style commercial office building
constructed in 1962 and expanded in 1967.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Design and Physical
The property at 39 Wynford Drive has design and
physical value as a representative example of an International Style commercial
office building. Its rectangular plan, flat roof, deep soffits, taut plane
exterior walls comprised of full height glazing and panels, and lack of applied
ornamentation are hallmarks of the International Style, expressing volume over
mass with a clear articulation of structure and proportional relationships.
Historical and Associative
The property at 39 Wynford Drive has value for
its direct association with the development of Flemingdon Park as an entirely
Modernist master planned community. This is reflected through its Modernist
design and deep setbacks from Wynford Drive and Gervais Drive.
The property has further historical and
associative value because it contributes to an understanding of the historical
development of Flemingdon Park as an entirely Modernist master planned
community. Located within the Flemingdon Park Industrial Area, its
International Style design, set back from Wynford Drive on a large, landscaped
lot, reflect the community’s development while providing evidence of the
original character of the Industrial Area.
The property also has value for its association
with both Peter Dickinson Associates (1958-1961) and the Webb Zerafa Menkes
Housden Partnership (WZMH Architects). Founded by prominent Modernist architect
Peter Dickinson (1925-1961), during its existence Peter Dickinson Associates
was one of Toronto’s most important proponents of Modernism. Founded by four of
Peter Dickinson’s associates after his death in 1961, WZMH Architects would
complete 39 Wyndford in 1962 and design the 2-storey addition in 1967. WZMH
also designed the 1966 Shell Canada building at 75 Wynford Drive and the Bell
Canada building at 100 Wynford Drive. One of Canada's leading architectural
firms and a leading proponent of Modernism in the 1960s and 1970s, WZMH
Architects has contributed many significant buildings to Toronto and Canada.
The property’s International Style design exemplifies both firms masterful
understanding of Modernist architectural design.
Contextual
Prominently located at the wide curve in Wynford
Drive, property at 39 Wynford Drive is important in defining, supporting, and
maintaining the Modernist master-planned character along Wynford Drive between
Don Mills Road and the Don Valley Parkway.
Constructed in 1962 as one of the earliest
properties in the Flemingdon Park Industrial Area, the property is physically,
functionally, and historically linked to its surroundings. This linkage is
enhanced by the property’s International Style design which responded to the
Modernist design requirements that were part of the master plan for Flemingdon
Park as well as its visually prominent location along the broad curve in
Wynford Drive.
Heritage Attributes
Design or Physical Value
The following heritage attributes contribute to
the design and physical value of the property at 39 Wynford Drive:
·
The scale, form, and
massing of the structure, including the 1967 2-storey addition, with its
rectangular plan, 4-storey height, deep soffits, and flat roof with wide fascia
and stepped-back mechanical penthouse
·
The exterior walls
with their pattern of full height glazing and solid panels
·
The raised offset
double entrance on the principal (north) elevation accessed from Wynford Drive
·
The setback,
placement and orientation of the building within the landscaped property
Contextual Value
The following heritage attributes contribute to
the contextual value of the property 39 Wynford Drive:
·
The scale, form, and
massing of the structure, including the 1967 2-storey addition, with its
rectangular plan, deep soffits, and flat roof with wide fascia and stepped-back
mechanical penthouse
·
The exterior walls
with their pattern of full height glazing and solid panels
·
The raised offset
double entrance on the principal (north) elevation accessed from Wynford Drive
·
The setback,
placement and orientation of the building within the landscaped property
·
The view west along
Wynford Drive of the principal (north) and east elevations of 39 Wynford Drive
at the curvature in the road
·
The view east from
Gervais Drive of the principal (north) and west elevations of 39 Wynford Drive
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:
Registrar Secretariat, City Clerk's Office, Toronto City Hall, 2nd Floor West,
100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2.; Email: RegistrarCCO@toronto.ca within thirty (30) days
of August 4, 2026, which is September 3, 2026. 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:
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.PH32.14.
Dated at the City of Toronto on August 4, 2026.
John D. Elvidge
City Clerk