Standard Bank of Canada

324 Broadview Avenue

Photo of an elegant building made of beige stone lit up at night.

Standard Bank of Canada, now home to Building Arts Architects, 324 Broadview Ave., 2014. Image: Building Arts Architects

Photo of a street view. An elegant building made of beige stone is in the centre of the photo, in between other buildings, and there are many shop signs on them. There is a road in front of the building and cars are on it.

Standard Bank of Canada, prior to restoration, 324 Broadview Ave., 2007. Image: Building Arts Architects

324 Broadview Avenue

Developer & Architects: Building Arts Architects

Originally built for the Standard Bank of Canada between 1913 and 1914, architect Eden Smith designed this building in the Beaux Arts style. The design features three column-like pilasters, which divide the front elevation symmetrically, a stylized entablature and cornice, and articulated windows and doors.

The Standard Bank of Canada merged into the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in 1928, and this building later became home to an Orthodox church and several retail businesses in the Chinatown East community.

The renovation of the property is an example of a small-scale project that balances the preservation of heritage attributes with contemporary interventions. Completely renovated for its combined use as an architecture office and residence, the project restored the front façade, and maintained interior heritage features, such as the masonry, steel structure, and wood finishes.

The project received the 2016 Heritage Toronto Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship Excellence Award.