1915 – Royal Bank Building, King Street East, Toronto

Commonly referred to by its street address, 2 King Street East, this heritage skyscraper stands at 90 meters tall, the tallest in Canada until 1928. A classical column with a four storey base and a four storey cap, it’s sombre and grand as befitting a large bank. Sited at a great architectural corner, King and Yonge, other corners being occupied by the Canadian Pacific Building and the former Dominion Bank Head Office, and the former Traders Bank building nearby.

The progress in skyscraper construction is nowhere better exemplified than in the Royal Bank building, Toronto. Exceeding all other structures in the British Empire in height, it bears such distinction with an air of dignity through its severe commercial aspect. The lower stories especially are worthy of careful observation. Here the main banking space has been preserved in the exterior treatment while still retaining the retail value of the site for shops and stores. The junction of Yonge and King streets represents the centre of the commercial district, and demands the utilizing of every available square foot. In order to preserve an unbroken design for the banking room and still provide a series of stores with entrances from the street, the first floor is reached by a monumental stairway, while the shops are accessible by steps descending to the ground floor. The latter are arranged so as not to interrupt the harmony of the general appearance and still have sufficient definition for the purpose for which they are intended to serve.

The building proper, which rises two hundred and fifty-five feet above the sidewalk, is surmounted by a twentieth story set back from the street line and a pent-house, bringing the total height to three hundred feet. The two main elevations facing Yonge and King streets consist of the customary divisions, the base course being grey granite with the columns of Indiana limestone, the shaft and cornice finished in a light cream-colored semi-glazed terra cotta. The rear elevations are treated in a pressed brick harmonizing with the general tone of the principal facades. All limestone is finished with a rubbed face and the granite with fine axed face excepting washes, jambs, soffits, sills, mouldings, etc., which are chiselled; while the back of the stone is plastered to a minimum thickness of one-quarter inch with non-staining mortar.

The Guardian Realty Company, who have leased the first floor for a period of years, will enjoy a banking space of unusual merit both in appearance and comfort. The rooms are accessible from King street through two public entrances with solid bronze doors three inches thick, and from the elevator hall. The arrangements between the main exchange banking room and the savings department below are so adjusted as to form practically a unit with perfect circulation. The offices of the manager, assistant manager and accountant are all ensuite and open directly on to the public space. Connected with the savings department is a ladies’ room.

Marble enters extensively into the treatment of the banking room; the walls, columns and floors being treated in highly polished Tavernelle marble with the inlaid work from a different strata and furnishing a necessary feeling of warmth. The main stairway is of solid Bassville marble, while the base around the entire room as well as the plinths of the columns is of black and gold. A Canadian marble has been used throughout the vaults, hallways, cloak rooms, etc. The public cheque desks and seats are of solid Tstrian marble, the legs being modeled after the well-known table in the Vatican at Rome. Overhead is an elaborate plaster ceiling, which, with the “old statuary” bronze in the stairs, screens, balcony and doors, lends to the tout ensemble a rich and artistic treatment.

The entire banking suite is heated by direct and indirect steam under thermostatic control and ventilated with a system of mechanical ventilation which ensures fresh air at all times. Sterilized and cooled water is run to various fountains at different points for drinking purposes from a sterilizing apparatus. A plunger elevator is installed for easy access to the silver safety deposit and book vault, the automatic control in connection with this device being tool-proof. For the convenience of the customers has been installed a safety deposit vault, security vaults and book vaults, lined with three inch steel, while each of the doors and vestibules weigh twenty-five tons. The general lighting of the room is accomplished by concealed indirect reflectors so arranged above the counter screen to ensure the best architectural effect as well as the practical lighting of the premises. The lighting of the counters is likewise accomplished by indirect reflectors.

Passing from an outside lobby of Indiana limestone six by eighteen feet, the elevator hall is entered through a small vestibule with a series of plain bronze doors. In addition to the main stairs, cigar stand and steps leading to the main banking room are six direct-connected electric elevators operating approximately seven hundred feet per minute. The walls have a ten foot marble dado above which is a chaste and ornate plaster ceiling; the floors are of light marble with dark border of same material
Construction, July 1915

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