Toronto is an incredibly beautiful metropolis. It’s impressive in its scale, and renowned for its unique architectural landmarks and buildings. Every structure in Toronto has its own story. Today, we’ll talk about an exquisite building — the Fairmont Royal York hotel, also simply known as the Royal York. However, this hotel isn’t just unique because of its architecture. For a time, it was the tallest building in Toronto, as well as the tallest in the country and the British Empire. You can find out all about this on the toronto-future.com.
The Hotel’s Origin Story
The Fairmont Royal York was designed by Ross and Macdonald, in association with Sproatt and Rolph. This elegant hotel was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway. In June 1929, the hotel opened its doors to guests. The Château-style building wowed Torontonians and visitors alike, largely due to its height. The structure stands 124 metres tall with 28 storeys. At the time of its opening, the hotel boasted over 1,000 rooms. Visitors were amazed that each room had a radio, its own shower, and a bathtub — a true rarity back then. Additionally, the hotel featured a library, a 12-bed hospital, and a telephone switchboard.
To this day, the Fairmont Royal York is considered one of Canada’s grand hotels. As mentioned, upon its completion, the hotel was deemed the tallest building in Toronto, and indeed, the tallest in the country and the British Empire. However, the hotel only held this top spot for a year. The very next year, the Canadian Bank of Commerce tower was constructed.
It’s worth noting that the Fairmont Royal York wasn’t the first hotel built on this site. In 1843, the first hotel, known as Ontario Terrace, was constructed. Ten years later, it was renovated and renamed Sword’s Hotel, and then the Revere Hotel.
In 1862, the hotel was sold. The new owner renovated the establishment to his own liking and named it the Queen’s Hotel. The hotel changed hands several more times, with its name changing along with its owners.
However, in the 1920s, a decision was made to demolish the existing hotel and build a new one on its site. Construction of the Royal York began in 1927. It’s worth adding that the cost of building the new hotel was $16 million.
Storybook Architecture
In 1957, an expansion of the hotel began, which was completed in 1959. However, the building’s architectural elements remained largely unchanged. The Fairmont Royal York is designed in the Châteauesque style, characterized by elements of medieval architecture. For instance, the facade is made of Indiana limestone and is adorned with pointed arches and grotesques in the form of griffins. The interior, on the other hand, is finished in an Edwardian style, featuring crystal chandeliers and a hand-carved wooden ceiling.
An interesting fact: the hotel has served as a residence for Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Canadian Royal Family during their stays in Toronto, as Ontario does not have an official government house for such occasions. In 1939, the Royal York first hosted members of the Royal Family: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, during their royal tour of Canada. In 1951, Queen Elizabeth (then Princess Elizabeth) first visited the hotel, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. It should be added that an entire floor of the hotel was typically prepared for the Queen.
In 2001, the hotel received its current name — Fairmont Royal York. Today, the hotel continues to be a popular venue for conferences, weddings, and other events.
We hope you found this information insightful and learned something new about your city and this unique hotel.
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