Gooderham Building

Completed in 1892, the Gooderham Building, also known as the Flatiron Building, was commissioned by George Gooderham, president of the Gooderham & Worts Distillery. Designed by architect David Roberts Jr., the structure cost $18,000 at the time and was intended to serve as the headquarters for the distillery empire, which was then the largest in the world. Its Romanesque Revival and French Gothic styles are highlighted by its distinctive red brickwork, steep copper-clad roof, and rounded corner tower. Situated at the intersection of Front Street and Wellington Street, its narrow wedge shape was a clever architectural solution to a triangular plot of land created by the city's shifting street grid. While many associate the 'Flatiron' style with New York City, this Toronto landmark actually predates its more famous Manhattan counterpart by a full decade. For nearly a century, it remained the nerve center of the Gooderham family's business ventures, standing as a symbol of Toronto's late 19th-century industrial wealth. In 1975, the building was designated a historic site under the Ontario Heritage Act. It underwent a major restoration in the late 20th century, which included the addition of a famous mural on its western facade. Today, the building continues to house prestigious office spaces and a pub in its basement, remaining one of the most photographed and beloved architectural gems in Canada.