The Annex in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Uno Prii

1924-2000

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

1. Uno Prii Marker

Inscription. This building and many other Space-Age apartments in this neighbourhood were designed by Estonian Canadian architect Uno Prii. Born in Tallinn, Prii left Estonia in 1943 during the Second World War. He studied applied engineering in Stockholm, Sweden, before moving to Canada, where he studied architecture at the University of Toronto. In 1957, Prii started an architectural firm that specialized in apartments. Toronto's population was booming and residential towers were in demand. In the Annex, the opening of the Bloor-Danforth and Spadina subways in the 1960s sparked construction of many similar high-rises. Prii became known for his unique designs using sculpted concrete to add Space-Age flair, like decorative fins, breeze blocks, and curved wall panels. Finished in 1966, the Vincennes (35 Walmer Road) was one of several buildings he created for developer Harry Hiller. In typical Pri style, the lower-floor balconies flare out, making the building look like a rocket ship. By 1970, about 50,000 Torontonians lived in buildings by Prii. When he retired in 1985, he had designed more than 250 buildings in Ontario and

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the United States. The Annex is one of the densest clusters of his work.

Erected 2024 by Heritage Toronto.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 43° 40.141′ N, 79° 24.375′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in The Annex. It is at the intersection of Walmer Road and Lowther Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Walmer Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35 Walmer Rd, Toronto ON M5R 1L7, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto

and on the Golden Horseshoe.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 35 Walmer Road

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

2. Uno Prii Marker

Centre of photo

(within shouting distance of this marker); Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Young Men’s - Young Women’s Hebrew Association (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); After the Spadina Expressway (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); “Stop Spadina Save Our City” (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Spadina Expressway (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Brunswick House (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Medical Arts Building (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Toronto.

Uno Prii marker photo and caption detail (left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ron Bull/Toronto Star, 1973

3. Uno Prii marker photo and caption detail (left)

Uno Prii marker photo and caption detail (right) image. Click for full size.

4. Uno Prii marker photo and caption detail (right)

The Vincennes in 2026 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 2, 2026

5. The Vincennes in 2026

Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 11, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.