This building houses the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre, and administrative and rehearsal space for the Canadian Opera Company. In 1885, the Consumers Gas Company acquired the land west of Trinity Street and south of Front Street to the railway tracks. The building that presently houses the Imperial Oil Opera Theatre (originally 251 Front St. E.) was built as the Consumers Gas Company´s Purifying House No. 2 in 1887-1888 by the architects Strictland and Symens, who designed it in the style of an early Christian basilica. (It has been suggested that the special clerestory roof was built as a self-supporting structure and simply placed on top of the building so that any explosion would raise it without destroying the walls.) It was renovated in the mid 1980´s for the Canadian Opera Company.This property’s contribution lies in its historic role in the industrialisation of the District in the late 19th century, its relation to adjacent 19th century industrial structures and its contemporary association with the Canadian Opera Company. The structure also contributes to the physical character of the District through its uniform elevation with repetitive windows and bays, large building footprint and polychrome brickwork, attributes which characterize industrial buildings in the District.

The following companies are associated with this building

• Architect - Arcorp Associates  <-- More buildings by this architect.
• Architect - Strickland and Symons  <-- More buildings by this architect.
• Architect - David B. Dick  <-- More buildings by this architect.