Bank of Canada Building, Modern architecture building at 250 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
The Bank of Canada Building is a modern structure on University Avenue in Toronto with a gray granite exterior and prominent bronze doors at the main entrance. The 90-meter-tall building features a robust, geometric design typical of mid-20th-century financial architecture.
The structure was designed by architects Ferdinand Herbert Marani and Robert Schofield Morris and built between 1957 and 1958. It was created during a period when Canada was modernizing its financial infrastructure and strengthening Toronto as an economic center.
The north and south walls display carved relief panels by sculptor Cleeve Horne showing geometric and symbolic forms that reflect financial themes. The entrance features sculptural elements that were meant to convey strength and permanence to visitors.
The building houses specialized vault spaces that were designed to secure gold and cash reserves for financial institutions across the Greater Toronto Area. Access is convenient from University Avenue, which runs through Toronto's main financial district and is easy to reach by public transit.
The central bank's main offices have relocated to another tower, leaving this structure as a rare example of mid-20th-century financial architecture that remains in place. This shift reflects how Toronto's financial landscape and the needs of banking institutions changed over the decades.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
