blogTO

Originally designed by Canadian architect John B. Parkin (who was also involved in the design and construction of City Hall, the TD Centre, as well as IBM's massive Canadian facility in Don Mills), it was one of the many buildings constructed during the 60's that gave Toronto a real taste of modernism. After they've cleared the rubble, the site will be the location for the $200 million Aga Khan Museum, an Ismaili community centre and cultural site. The Star's Christopher Hume said it best in April this year: "Surely there's an element of irony when an architecturally worthy building must be destroyed in the name of culture." The Toronto Preservation Board fought to have the building saved as a heritage site, but City Council, in what was surely a difficult decision, denied the request and sealed the buildings fate. Since then, it's been a subject of interest to some urban explorers and photographers alike.