1892 – Home Life Building, Adelaide Street, Toronto, Canada
Constructed as the head office of The Freehold Loan Company, renamed as the Home Life Building in 1902. A fantastic example of Richardson Romanesque that was sadly demolished in the 1960s.
“This building will be constructed of iron frame work and fire proof brick, in a new and novel manner. The construction will be so arranged that one or more, or even the entire partitions throughout any flat, can be removed without affecting the construction of the other floors. Every accommodation is provided for the occupants—vaults for all offices, private lavatories on all floors, and public lavatories for male and female on top flat. There will be two iron passenger elevators. All staircases will be wrought iron with marble steps. The main entrance will be about 20 feet wide, forming a handsome archway, and will have marble staircases, and marble floors and walls. The exterior will be constructed of Connecticut and New Brunswick brown stone, and a selected quality of new colored brick. E. J. Lennox, architect, Toronto.”
Canadian Architect and Builder, December 1889
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Published May 19, 2026
