Imperial Oil Building, Modern skyscraper on St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Canada
The Imperial Oil Building is a 21-story skyscraper on St. Clair Avenue West featuring pink granite and Indiana limestone exterior with expansive glass windows set in a modernist design. The structure was later converted to residential units and now includes retail spaces such as a grocery store.
Completed in 1957, the building originated from an initial proposal for Toronto City Hall before being adapted as Imperial Oil Company's headquarters. This shift in purpose defined its role in Toronto's corporate history.
The ground floor lobby displays two large murals by R. York Wilson depicting oil's journey from prehistoric times through modern industrial use. These artworks tell a visual story that greets visitors as they enter the building.
The building sits on an easily accessible street in the St. Clair neighborhood with nearby public transit and sidewalks for walking. Retail access at ground level lets visitors view the lobby murals conveniently without needing to enter the full building.
Upon completion, this structure held the title of the world's largest building with a welded steel frame, using welding instead of rivets during construction. This innovative technique represented a major advance in post-war construction methods.
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