Chest opened
+${chestReward.xp} XP
Explorer
NOUVEAU ×${chestReward.collectible.quantity}
tapez pour fermer

See the monuments around you in AR Open chests in the app

Around Us is built for your phone — point your camera at the streets and discover the monuments and places around you in augmented reality. Around Us is built for your phone — chests unlock when you walk, explore and capture nearby places.

•

Enable Location

We need your location to show you interesting places around you

Discover nearby places

Find interesting locations and hidden gems around you

Precise directions

Get accurate directions and distances to places

Your location is never shared with other users. It's only used when you tap the location button.

Whitney Block

Log in to your account

Start exploring — it's free

Trusted by 92,618 travelers worldwide

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
or

We will send you a code to connect

By continuing, you accept our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy

Check your inbox

We've sent a pincode in your inbox. Please enter the code below.

Whitney Block

Whitney Block, Government building in downtown Toronto, Canada.

The Whitney Block is a government building in downtown Toronto featuring Modern Gothic architectural elements. Stone walls showcase vertical lines and symmetrical patterns across the entire exterior facade.

Built in 1926 to designs by F. R. Heakes as the East Block, the building was renamed the Whitney Block in honour of former premier James P. Whitney. The tower was added in 1932, when the building ranked among Toronto's tallest. A rehabilitation by Brown Daniel Associates ran from January 2018 to August 2023, adding new HVAC systems, modernized offices and windows with Ontario's trillium symbols.

The building is named after James P. Whitney, premier of Ontario from 1905 to 1914; it was first called the East Block. Its facade carries repeated quatrefoils and figures by sculptor Charles Adamson representing justice, tolerance, wisdom and power, alongside mining, forestry, labour, law, education and farming. The tower keeps one of Toronto's few working hand-cranked elevators.

The main facade faces west onto Queen's Park Crescent, across from the Ontario Legislative Building; the street address is 99 Wellesley Street West. The building connects to the legislature by a tunnel under the street, to the Macdonald Block by a bridge, and onward by tunnel to the subway. The tower, no longer office space, holds one of Toronto's few working hand-cranked elevators.

The tower holds one of the last working hand-cranked elevators in Toronto, and the building once had a bowling alley and quarters for live domestic and farm animals. Its floors are marble quarried in Bancroft, and the facade figures by Charles Adamson depict justice, tolerance, wisdom and power alongside mining, forestry, labour, law, education and farming.

The community of curious travelers

AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,618 contributors worldwide.

Start exploring
Location
Inception
1926
Architects
Francis R. Heakes
Architectural style
Modern Gothic style
GPS coordinates
43.66310,-79.38980
Latest update
October 24, 2026 21:56
Reviews
Share your experience

No review yet

Discussions
Start a discussion...

No discussion yet

« Whitney Block - Government building in downtown Toronto, Canada » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!

From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.

Around Us App Screenshot
❝

A unique approach to discovering new places❞

— Le Figaro

❝

All the places worth exploring❞

— France Info

❝

A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞

— 20 Minutes

Around Us
Travel Guide & Maps
Download

Send to your phone

QR Code
1

Open the camera app on your mobile.

2

Point at the QR code with your camera. A notification will appear.

3

Tap the notification to open the link.