[Ed007Toronto]

From 1873. I wonder if the upper level of that part of St Lawrence Hall was office/retail at one point. Or is that just signage for the ground floor that most recently was Legacy Mirror and will soon be an RBC branch.

 

[simply Dan]

The "Toronto Tea Company" will soon become downtown's newest RBC Royal Bank branch.

 

[building babel]

Though of course that whole corner was rebuilt after it collapsed in 1967.

 

[Citywriter]

...under the weight of all that tea?

 

[building babel]

...possibly.

The wooden structural beams inside had been sawn through and weakened, apparently. Bits of masonry started falling off the outside one day, as a warning sign. Then the thing just collapsed, much to the surprise of those in a passing streetcar.

 

[Ed007Toronto]

They were renovating the building as part of the Centennial celebrations when someone cut the wrong support structure. Amazing fix up job.

 

[ganjavih]

Amazing fix up job.

Especially considering when it was done... I'm surprised they didn't just raze the whole thing. You'd never guess that bit was redone.

 

[Darkstar416]

Any photos around from after the collapse happened?

 

[Ed007Toronto]

I've seen such a photo but I can't remember where.

 

[building babel]

There was a nice little book about the history of the place, published around 1970, that sometimes turns up in flea markets. There is coverage of the collapse in it and, I think, photographs.

 

[andreapalladio]

You can tell which capitals on the pilasters on the east end were done after the collapse - the stone cutting isn't nearly as well done.

I've seen a picture of the rubble lying in Jarvis Street. I forget where though. I've always heard that the collapse happened when the foundations were undermined during the restoration.

 

[thx1038]

What is this building now? I know RBC is in there. Is it an office, condo? Whats the delio? I go past it everyday on the streetcar and wonder...

 

[building babel]

They rent out the great hall, and some of the other rooms, for events - concerts, Opera Atelier, wedding receptions, dance performances, public meetings etc. The National Ballet used to be there.

 

[Ed007Toronto]

Ground floor also has a restaurant.

 

[Urban Shocker]

This is the book I referred to earlier:

St Lawrence Hall
Publisher: Thomas Nelson ( Canada ), 1969.
185 pages.
Designed by Paul Arthur + Associates

Covers the history of the building, the architect, the National Ballet using it, floor plans, the restoration etc. Plenty of good photographs, including one showing the unbelievable stupidity of workmen who had cut through a row of structural posts when installing pipes or wires, and a chapter on the collapse and restoration.

I picked up a copy yesterday at the Sunday antique market for $8.