From the early 19th century to the middle of the 20th numerous commercial establishments were located on the site now occupied by Market Square. However, by the time it was built in the early 1980s, these businesses had been displaced by a large parking lot. This meant that the architects who designed Market Square had the opportunity to build a modern structure on an empty site. At the same time, however, they faced the challenge of creating a building that would complement some of the city's most notable historic architecture.

Unique Design

From the original architectural model (see picture, left) to its completion, Market Square's design history is an interesting one. In order to obtain a permit from the City of Toronto, two conditions were imposed on the developers. They were required to create enough parking spaces in the new garage to make up for the loss of the parking lot and they had to preserve the view of St. James' Cathedral from Front Street.

In very European fashion, the two contoured buildings of Market Square form an intimate interior courtyard. A rooftop garden (complete with a barbecue area) on the 10th floor offers stunning views of the courtyard, city skyline and Lake Ontario. The requirement to preserve the view of St. James' Cathedral was met by creating a pedestrian passage that leads from Front Street through the Toronto Sculpture Garden to King Street.

The architect, Jerome Markson, managed to make Market Square blend into the neighbourhood by employing two colours of brick, echoing those of St. James' Cathedral and the St. Lawrence Hall. Another device was to design a cornice line above the seventh storey that matches the eaves and roof lines of surrounding buildings.

A unique feature of Market Square is the great variation in the size, layout and features of the individual suites. All are spacious and many have terraces or solariums. Most of the suites on the two upper floors also have working fireplaces.

Market Square has won numerous design awards, including the City of Toronto Urban Design Award and the Governor General's Award for Residential Design.

© 1999 - MotionsMedia Technology and Communications

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