Why I Love Toronto Reason #108

The Gooderham Building / Flatiron building.

So Dasha’s bf Craig is in town and we decided to go to a bar – the bar we went to was the Flatiron and Firkin which was underneath the Gooderham or better known as the Flatiron Building. Now this building was just recently sold for around 15 million and the only lease that is allowed to stay is the Firkin who has the place until 2015.  Now the flatiron building itself is amazing. And here are some of the reasons why.

The building was the first flatiron building of its kind when it was completed in 1892. In fact New York’s flatiron building was built until 1902 a decade after. It is called the Gooderham building after the family, but more specifically George who had a famous distilling company in the area which we know as the Distillery District. Mr. Gooderham was not only the owner of the Gooderham and Worts distillery, but also the president of the Bank of Toronto.  The Gooderham building was the headquarters for his businesses.

The building was designed by David Roberts Jr. in the shape of a triangle which has arch windows, a Romanesque cornice as well as frieze and a cooper clad roof. It is considered Romanesque revival architecture. Mr. Gooderham’s office was on the very top floor of the 5 storey building so that he could have the perfect view of his businesses – his ships at the lake, his bank employees and his distillery. Basically he had a panoptic view of everything he was involved in – very Foucault. When he died he was the richest man in Ontario!

It is said to be one of the most photographed building in the city – which I find interesting considering the CN Tower us the former tallest building in the world and tallest in the America, but I can understand why with its shape and all its detail. It also has fire escapes and if there is one thing that makes a building really attractive it is the fire escapes. I don’t know what it is but I just fall in love with a building that has them.

It also has a mural on the back which looks like a poster that is falling off the building, or like how they put a poster of a building up in New York while it is under construction. The mural is definitely a must see sight, along with the staircases as well as the overall structure of the building

Recently the building was sold for 15 million dollars by The Commercial Realty Group. They apparently will start leasing space in the new year.

Regardless this building is part of historical Toronto and

That is Why I Love Toronto

http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/Conservation/Conservation-easements/Visit-our-easement-properties/Gooderham-Building-(Toronto),-1891-92.aspx

http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/pages/14_doors_open_toronto.aspx

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  1. sheslikethexwind reblogged this from whyilovetoronto and added:
    A little history for you torontonians
  2. whyilovetoronto posted this