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 honours the Bank of Montreal, Canada's first chartered bank, which occupies the tower as its global operational executive office. The building's nickname, First Bank Tower, echoes that origin. Look for the Bank of Montreal "M-bar" logo at the top, which was the world's highest sign from 1975 until 1997.
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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