Downtown Yonge in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Confederation Life Building

1892

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 2022

1. Confederation Life Building Marker

Inscription.
Once one of Toronto's grandest office buildings, this landmark served as the headquarters of the Confederation Life Association until 1955. Plans for the building arose from an international competition won by Knox, Elliot and Jarvis, architects. The design incorporates Romanesque and French Gothic architectural elements, and originally featured decorative pinnacles and a taller central tower with elaborate stone tracery. Revitalized in the early 1980s, the building remains an important part of Toronto's architectural heritage.

Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 1975

Erected 2009 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 43° 39.119′ N, 79° 22.696′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Downtown Yonge. Marker is on Richmond Street East just west of Victoria Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the left/west of the south entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 Richmond Street East, Toronto ON M5C 2R9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Original Site of Toronto Hebrew Congregation Holy Blossom (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Town Tavern (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Bay Queen Street Store / Le Magasin la Baie de la Rue Queen (about 120 meters away); Albert Jackson (about 150 meters away); Toronto's Eighth Post Office (about 150 meters away); Metropolitan United Church (about 180 meters away); Excelsior Life Building (about 210 meters away); The Santa Claus Parade / Le Parade du Père Noël (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Also see . . .
1. Confederation Life Building.

The Confederation Life Building is an historic landmark seven-floor Romanesque Revival office building. A fire gutted the top floor of the building and destroyed the roof in June 1981, but the structure survived and was restored for new tenants.

(Submitted on March 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Toronto’s 1890s Confederation Life Building.

When completed in 1882, the fanciful castle-like structure was one of the tallest buildings in the city, its massive stone blocks
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 2022

2. Confederation Life Building Marker
(looking north from Richmond Street East • marker is on left/west side of entrance)
rising to a height of six storeys, though its thick walls and towers created the illusion of a much taller building. At the time, it was considered the finest and most up-to-date office building in the city, indeed, in all of North America. Flamboyant in style, it was in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, similar to Toronto’s Old City Hall. The Credit Valley sandstone blocks at the base of the structure were enormous, as they supported the weight of the floors above them. The many carvings on its facades were rich in classical and Medieval symbolism.

(Submitted on March 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Confederation Life Building (<i>southeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 29, 2022

3. Confederation Life Building (southeast elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.