Canada Permanent Trust Building
Built in 1931 and formerly known as the Canada Permanent Trust Building in Toronto, 320 Bay Street was designed by the architect Henry Sproatt. It is an 18-storey office building located in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Canada Permanent Trust Building | |
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![]() Architectural rendering of the building | |
Type | office building |
Coordinates | 43.64962°N 79.38107°W |
Built | 1928-1930 |
Architect | F.H. Wilkes, Mathers & Haldenby; Sproatt & Rolph |
Architectural style(s) | Art Deco |
Owner | Menkes Developments Ltd. and TD Greystone Asset Management |
Designated | Nov 26, 1975 |
Menkes Developments Ltd. started a major restoration of the building in 2021, improving the quality and service of the space, while preserving the integrity of the structure's history and architectural elements. Menkes plans to enhance the 1930s façade, and has exciting plans for a street level reimagination of the Building. The revitalization of the 300,000 square foot space will include significant electrical and mechanical upgrades.[1]
Heritage Information
The building is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act since November 26, 1975. There is also a heritage easement agreement on the building, Registered C440805, since January 7, 1988. The building has a heritage designation plaque to inform the public, placed in 1978.[2]

Per the official designation: "The Canada Permannent Trust Building, 320 Bay Street at Adelaide Street West (SW), 1929-30 by F. Hilton Wilkes & Mackenzie Waters; Mathers & Haldenby, Associates. Sproatt & Rolph, Consultants.
The Canada Permanent Trust Building is designated to be of architectural value as being one of the finest highrise bank buildings of its period in Canada. Designed using the simplified classical forms of the Style Moderne, it combines an emphasis on its vertical height appropriate to its basic form, with the impressive vaulted banking hall, characteristic of bank buildings at the beginning of the Century. The building is also important as a part of the Bay Street canyon of high-rise buildings that has come to be regarded as symbolic of Toronto's financial quarter."[3]
Company Information
The Canada Permanent Trust building was purchased by Menkes Developments Ltd. in partnership with TD Greystone Asset Management in January 2019 and is now known as The Permanent.[1]
References
- Wilcox, Don (January 10, 2019). "Menkes partners with TD Greystone to renovate 320 Bay Street". Real Estate News Exchange. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- "Heritage Property Detail, Address: 320 BAY ST". City of Toronto's Heritage Property Register. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- "No. 502-75. A BY-LAW To designate the Canada Permanent Trust Building at 320 Bay Street of architectural value.". By-law No. 502-75 of 1975.
External links
Media related to Canada Permanent Trust Building at Wikimedia Commons
- "Canada Permanent Trust Building". SkyscraperPage.
- CIBC Mellon