Toronto Harbour Commission Building, Beaux-Arts administrative building in South Core, Toronto, Canada
The Toronto Harbour Commission Building is a six-story administrative structure in South Core clad in Indiana and Queenston limestone. Its most striking architectural feature is the engraved frieze running across the facade at 60 Harbour Street.
The building was designed in 1917 by architects Chapman and McGiffin and served as the administrative hub for port operations for over 80 years. It played a central role in managing harbor activities until the commission was dissolved around the end of the 1900s.
The building carries an engraved inscription showing how Toronto once used both American and British spellings side by side. The frieze reveals the cultural influences that shaped the city during that era.
The ground floor now houses a steakhouse restaurant, while upper floors are used by various office tenants. Visitors can view the facade and public areas at street level, though the upper stories are not open to the public.
The building once stood right at the water's edge, but massive land reclamation projects pushed the shoreline far to the south. Today it sits well inland, a visible reminder of how the harbor's shape and infrastructure have changed over time.
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