Carrying the patina of a city dense with industry, Toronto was still heavy with the weight of Victorian architecture. A succession of projects, however, would eventually clear entire blocks to make way for the office developments of the 1960's and 1970's. The feverish embrace of development would be costly for our built heritage, with the loss of The Globe & Mail building, the Bank of Montreal offices, and the Toronto Star Building among the casualties. Replacing the stone and brick of the older city, the glass and steel monuments that were soon to arrive signalled a city in ascendency, serving to pull a conservative Toronto into the future.

Aerial view of downtown Toronto, circa 1930. Image sourced by Forum member archoman.

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