Imperial Bank of Canada, 1908
The Imperial Bank of Canada operated from 1873 until 1961, when it merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce or CIBC.
The branch at 230 King Street East was built in 1908 and designed by the prominent architectural firm Darling & Pearson, who embraced the Classical architectural style commonly used for banks. In this case, they employed Edwardian Classicism, intended to convey security, dignity, and fiscal integrity. Stone facades were used to symbolize stability and wealth. This branch was one of six Imperial Bank buildings the firm designed in Toronto; they also designed a total of 12 branches for the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The bank vacated the building in 1997 after 89 years. In 2005, developer Camrost Felcorp completed a 17-storey condominium on the site, named King’s Court, which incorporates the original bank façade and preserves the rotunda entrance with its mosaic lobby floor bearing the initials IBC.
The Imperial Bank of Canada operated from 1873 until 1961, when it merged with the Canadian Bank of Commerce to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce or CIBC.
The branch at 230 King Street East was built in 1908 and designed by the prominent architectural firm Darling & Pearson, who embraced the Classical architectural style commonly used for banks. In this case, they employed Edwardian Classicism, intended to convey security, dignity, and fiscal integrity. Stone facades were used to symbolize stability and wealth. This branch was one of six Imperial Bank buildings the firm designed in Toronto; they also designed a total of 12 branches for the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The bank vacated the building in 1997 after 89 years. In 2005, developer Camrost Felcorp completed a 17-storey condominium on the site, named King’s Court, which incorporates the original bank façade and preserves the rotunda entrance with its mosaic lobby floor bearing the initials IBC.
