1921 – Merchants Bank of Canada, King Street, Toronto, Canada

Described in the architectural press at the time of opening:

“The new Merchants’ Bank, however, differs from the others in that it offers no space for the rental of offices, but is intended solely for banking requirements. The design, which is a free adaptation of Italian Renaissance, readily denotes the purpose of the building. The lower facade is of granite to a height of 13 feet, and with the heavy bronze doors of the entrance conveys a sense of security which is a desirable note in bank building design. Above this is a column and pilaster treatment carried out in Indiana limestone. The columns are two and a half feet in diameter and 26 feet high, terminating in an open balustrade with a four foot recess to the upper floor.

One enters through bronze revolving doors to a vestibule with three low steps leading to the banking room. The result here shows a well-controlled expenditure, in which a pleasing effect has been achieved through the treatment and materials employed, rather than by the lavish use of ornament and decorative embellishment. The banking room proper is 66 by 51 feet and 80 feet high. Much of the color effect of the scheme results from the use of different marbles. The walls are of plaster and terminate with a coved ceiling carried out in an Italian treatment with French grey marble pilasters and corbels supporting arched penetrations. French grey marble is also used for the two columns flanking the entrance over which the mezzanine floor is directly located. The walls are in Tokeen marble, the floor of French grey and pink Lapanto, and the counters in verde antique with San Saba marble screens.

A feature of note in the scheme are the four splayed corners which, apart from their architectural effect, have been made use of for the concealment of smoke stack, fresh air ducts and main floor lavatories. The manager’s office and stair and elevators are immediately on the right and left on entering. The banking room is lighted by a ceiling light, 20 by 36 feet and by the three high windows of the mezzanine floor. The public space is 17 by 51 feet, and a uniform width of 17 feet is provided behind the counters, so as to give comfortable working conditions.

On the second floor are offices, women’s locker room, rest room and lavatories. The gallery or mezzanine across the front which is used for clerical space is 14 feet wide by 41 feet long and has a 17 foot groined plaster ceiling. The third floor contains a dining-room and a kitchen for the staff.”
Construction, September 1921

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