1915 – Excelsior Life Building, Toronto, Canada
“The main facades of the building has been designed in plain modern classic architecture, with a view of good proportion and handsome appearance.”
“The building has been designed in the form of a pedestal shaft and frieze appearance, the upper storeys being brought out in the form of a colonade. fonned with columns and pilasters, which gives a rich appearance to the building.”
Construction, February 1916
This 11-storey building, designed by prominent Toronto architect E.J. Lennox, his last before he shut down his architectural practice. Named after the Excelsior Life Insurance Company, whose offices were located within. It replaced the Union Block, a Second Empire-style office building that stood here from 1873. Its exterior is constructed of terra cotta with a granite base and is designed in the Classical Italianate style, with decorative columns near the top.
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Published March 7, 2026
