Old City Hall

Completed in 1899 after a decade of construction, Old City Hall was the crowning achievement of architect E.J. Lennox. At the time of its opening, it stood as the largest municipal building in North America and represented the growing ambition of Toronto as a major colonial city. The construction process was fraught with controversy, including significant budget overruns that led the city council to refuse to place a plaque honoring the architect, prompting him to hide his name in the stonework. The building is a premier example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, featuring heavy, rusticated sandstone, rhythmic rounded arches, and a dominant 103-meter-tall clock tower. The exterior is adorned with intricate gargoyles and carvings, while the interior boasts a grand staircase and a massive stained-glass window designed by Robert McCausland. It served as the seat of Toronto's government for 66 years before the new City Hall was built directly across the street. By the mid-20th century, the building faced the threat of demolition to make way for the massive Eaton Centre shopping complex. However, a dedicated group of preservationists known as 'Friends of Old City Hall' successfully campaigned to save the structure, leading to its designation as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1984. Today, the building functions as a provincial courthouse, continuing its legacy as a vital piece of the city's civic and legal fabric.