The Sutton Place Hotel was a 33-storey hotel and apartment building located at 955 Bay Street in Toronto, Ontario. Designed by architectural firm Webb Zerafa Menkès Housden and operating from 1967 to 2012, Sutton Place was one of Toronto's most luxurious hotels and was known for frequently hosting dignitaries and celebrities.
History
The Sutton Place project was developed by Max Tanenbaum of York Steel, and lawyer David Dennis. Architectural firm Webb Zerafa Menkès Housden - the descendant of Peter Dickinson Associates - designed the building, which along with the hotel included luxury apartments on the upper floors. The top floor of the hotel, thirty-three stories high, held the restaurant "Stop 33" which featured a starlight ceiling and tall windows. Also included in the structure were two pools, a pub, a banquet hall, and an office building. The lobby featured a mural painted by Shirley Tattersfield depicting Canada's history, a tribute to the country's Centennial that year. At the time of its opening, Sutton Place was the tallest building in Toronto north of Queen Street.
During its time Sutton Place hosted numerous celebrities and was a major destination for actors during the annual Toronto International Film Festival. Notable guests included Pierre Trudeau, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Nicks, and Ted Danson. In 1967 vibraphonist Hagood Hardy recorded the album Stop 33 in the lounge of the same name, where his band had a residency.
After falling into disrepair the hotel was purchased in the early 2010s by Lanterra Developments. The hotel officially closed on 15 June 2012, forty-five years after opening. All contents of the hotel were sold at auction in 2014. In late 2015 the building was gutted, several stories were removed, and work began on converting the existing frame into a new condominium tower to be called "The Britt."