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The Hermant Building is a 10-storey commercial building completed in 1913 located in the Church-Yonge Corridor on 19 Dundas Square. Framed by both Victoria Street and O‘Keefe Lane the office tower, alongside its later addition forms the south-eastern end of the heavily frequented city square.
The building has been designated on December 1st, 2011 under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value following the redevelopment of the site.
The evolution of the site reflects the changing local needs of the area and the general intensification and development of the downtown core. Overlooking Dundas Square the Hermant building is an important landmark, as it is highly visible in its setting by surpassing the adjoining buildings in height. Upon its completion the office building was briefly the tallest in downtown Toronto when most of the early skyscrapers were located in the city’s financial district.
The history of the Hermant building and Imperial Optical is a mirror of early 20th century merchantilism preceding the first world war and reflects the growth of both the City of Toronto as a corporate centre and the integration of the new immigrant communities within the city engendering the buildings with significant architectural and historical importance.
The Hermant building by Bond and Smith is strongly influenced by the advancements in building technology occurring during the late 19th and early 20th century, including the development of glazed wall systems, the application of fire proof terra cotta cladding and the implementation of the elevator, reminiscent of the Chicago Style originating in America. Following the concept of the ‘white city‘ the office building is an early surviving example of reinforced concrete construction in Toronto making use of white decorative terra cotta, following the departure from the dark industrial age of the 19th century
