Status Demolished Height 37 m Floors 12 | Type Commercial offices Completed 1895-1896 Opened 1896 Demolished 1970 | |
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Alternative names Temple of the Independent Order of Foresters Similar Trader's Bank Building, Royal Military College, Canadian Pacific Building, Beard Building, Sterling Tower | ||
The Temple Building was a 12-storey, 36.93 m (121.2 ft) highrise erected at 62 Richmond Street West and Bay Street in Toronto, Ontario.
Contents
Map of 390 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5H, Canada
History
Regarded as one of the city's first skyscrapers, it was completed in 1896 to house the world headquarters of the Independent Order of Foresters, which was a friendly society that acted as both a fraternal order and an important financial institution. The IOF was then run by the energetic Oronhyatekha who commissioned the grand structure. It was designed by George W. Gouinlock.
The building was located at Richmond and Bay Street. Upon its completion it was Toronto's tallest building, a title it would hold until the Trader's Bank Building was built in 1905.
The building was demolished in 1970 to make way for the Queen-Bay Centre (120m 32 floor Munich Re Centre built 1973 and 105m 25 floor Thomson Building built 1972) which still stands on the site.
The IOF relocated to Don Mills in 1967 to Foresters House at 789 Don Mills Road.
Legacy
A portion of the facade of this building can be found at Guild Park and Gardens in Scarborough.