Toronto Ontario – Canada -One King West Hotel and Residence – AKA – The Dominion Bank Building – Original Ceiling
Image by Bill Badzo
Founded in Toronto in 1869, The Dominion Bank moved its head office to this site ten years later. In 1914, the bank’s rise to national prominence led to the construction of this early 12-storey skyscraper. Beaux-Arts in style with Renaissance Revival detailing, it boasted the city’s largest vault and most elegant banking hall. The building was a major work of the leading firm, Darling and Pearson, Architects, in co-operation with Harkness and Oxley, Engineers. In 1955, a merger with the Bank of Toronto formed The Toronto-Dominion Bank. While many head office functions were relocated, a branch continued here until 2000. In 2005, the Dominion Bank Building was opened for residential use after being redesigned by Stanford Downey Architect.
In 1955, a merger with the Bank of Toronto resulted in the formation of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Following this, many head office functions were relocated to the current Toronto-Dominion Bank building, while a branch continued to operate at 1 King West into the nineteen-nineties.
By 2006 the transformation was finally complete, resulting in One King West Hotel and Residence. Today, guests of the hotel are treated to the historical splendour of the Dominion Bank Building along with the modern sophistication of luxurious hotel amenities and services. 179