View source for Temple Building (Toronto)

{{For|the building in [[Rochester, New York]]|Temple Building (Rochester)}}
{{Infobox building
| building_name   = Temple Building
| image           = Temple Building, Toronto.jpg
| caption         = The Temple Building in 1902
| alternate_name  = Temple of the Independent Order of Foresters 
| location        = 62 Richmond Street West<br />[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]] [[Canada]]
| coordinates     = {{coord|43.6513|-79.3818|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=it}}
| demolished_date = 1970
| completion_date = 1895-1896
| status          = Demolished
| building_type   = Commercial offices
| architectural_style = [[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque Revival]]
| height           = {{convert|36.93|m|abbr=on}}
| floor_count     = 12
| elevator_count  = 
| architect       = [[George Wallace Gouinlock]]
| engineer        = 
| main_contractor = 
| developer       = 
| owner           = 
| management      = 
| references      = <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/237789 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307024800/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/237789 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |title=Emporis building ID 237789 |work=[[Emporis]]}}</ref><ref>{{skyscraperpage|10339}}</ref>
}}

The '''Temple Building''' was a 12-[[storey]], {{convert|36.93|m|abbr=on}} highrise erected at 62 Richmond Street West and Bay Street in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]].

==History==

Regarded as one of the city's first [[skyscraper]]s, it was completed in 1896 to house the world headquarters of the [[Independent Order of Foresters]], which was a [[friendly society]] that acted as both a fraternal order and an important financial institution. The IOF was then run by the energetic [[Oronhyatekha]] who commissioned the grand structure. It was designed by George W. Gouinlock, who looked to Chicago's high rise buildings, and specifically the [[Rookery Building]], for inspiration.

The building was located at Richmond and [[Bay Street]]. Upon its completion it was Toronto's tallest building, a title it would hold until the [[Trader's Bank Building (Toronto)|Trader's Bank Building]] was built in 1905. Foresters left the building in 1953 for a new building at 590 Jarvis Street at Charles Street (later as Metro Toronto Police HQ and demolished).<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real-estate/old-police-hq-to-make-way-for-condos/article1049443/| title = Old police HQ to make way for condos - The Globe and Mail| website = [[The Globe and Mail]]| date = 19 December 2003| last1 = Avery| first1 = Simon}}</ref>

The building was demolished in 1970 to make way for the Queen-Bay Centre (120m 32 floor Munich Re Centre built 1973 and 105m 25 floor Thomson Building built 1972) which still stands on the site.

The IOF relocated to [[Don Mills]] in 1967 to [[Foresters House]] at 789 Don Mills Road.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/132714/foresters-house-toronto-canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091745/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/132714/foresters-house-toronto-canada |url-status=usurped |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=Foresters House, Toronto &#124; 132714 |publisher=Emporis |date= |accessdate=2022-05-03}}</ref>

==Legacy==
A portion of the facade of this building can be found at [[Guild Park and Gardens]] in [[Scarborough, Toronto|Scarborough]].

{{gallery|File:Remains of Toronto Temple Building.jpg|The remains of the Temple Building at Guild Park and Gardens.
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|Temple Building}}
*{{cite news | author=Kevin Plummer| title=Historicist: Toronto's First Skyscraper] | url=http://torontoist.com/2008/08/historicist_torontos_first_skyscrap.php | work=Torontoist | date=30 August 2008 | access-date=6 August 2013}}
*[https://dalspace.library.dal.ca/bitstream/handle/10222/71626/vol42_2_77_99.pdf?sequence=1 "Toronto's Edwardian Skyscraper Row"] in JSSAC 40  - 2015

{{Buildings in Canada timeline}}
{{Buildings in Toronto timeline}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 1970]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Toronto]]
[[Category:Office buildings completed in 1896]]
[[Category:Office buildings in Toronto]]
[[Category:Romanesque Revival architecture in Canada]]
[[Category:Skyscrapers in Toronto]]
[[Category:1896 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:1970 disestablishments in Ontario]]