First Canadian Place, Office skyscraper in Financial District, Toronto, Canada
First Canadian Place is a 72-storey office tower in the Financial District of Toronto, Canada, rising 298 meters (978 feet) above street level. The facade combines steel, glass, and marble to create a bright exterior shell.
Construction began in 1973 on the site formerly occupied by the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail newspaper headquarters. Completion came in 1975, when the building opened officially and became the tallest structure in the Commonwealth.
The name refers to the Bank of Montreal, once considered the first chartered financial institution in the nation and a longtime tenant here. Pedestrians recognize the structure by its bright marble cladding, which replaced the darker original material after a thorough renovation.
Inside, 29 elevators link the floors and provide quick access to the upper storeys. The tower connects directly to the underground PATH network, allowing dry passage to three levels of shops and restaurants.
The building held the title of tallest structure in the entire Commonwealth from its opening year until 1998, when the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur claimed that position. For those 23 years, the silhouette shaped Toronto's skyline and served visitors as a landmark.
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