Century Lofts
Imperial Optical's 1939 lens factory at Dundas and Ontario, a two-storey yellow-brick and concrete Art Deco building by Benjamin Brown, the architect of Imperial Lofts' Art Deco half. Converted in 2000 into 41 residential and live/work lofts.
History of Century Lofts
Imperial Optical, founded in 1900 by Percy Hermant, grew into the largest optical company in the British Commonwealth, with its head office in the Hermant Building on Dundas Square. In 1939 it built this two-storey lens factory, fronting on Ontario Street, designed by Benjamin Brown, one of Toronto's first Jewish architects; besides the lens works it held storage, a garage, a janitor's apartment and a staff restaurant. Brown also designed the company's Art Deco office building on Sherbourne, now part of Imperial Lofts, and the two share the same yellow brick and concrete trim.
Hermant ran the company until his death in 1959. His son Sydney sold control to Harcourt Carter Optical of the Caribbean in 1965, which took full ownership in 1991.
The building was converted in 2000 into 41 lofts over its two floors, with big factory windows, concrete, and the original wood ceiling on the top floor. In 2009 the owners won a City of Toronto Beautiful City grant to plant up the street front. It is one of only a handful of Art Deco loft buildings in Toronto, along with Tip Top, Forest Hill and Imperial.
Stories you'll hear
The developer is said to have first wanted a 200-unit rooming house and turned to lofts only when the City said no. And why “Century”? Nobody seems to know; Imperial Lofts already had the obvious name.
Century Lofts: quick facts
Where is Century Lofts?
Century Lofts is at 365 Dundas Street East, Toronto, near Dundas E & Ontario, in Moss Park / St. Lawrence.
When was Century Lofts built, and what was it originally?
It was built in 1939. Imperial Optical's 1939 lens factory at Dundas and Ontario, a two-storey yellow-brick and concrete Art Deco building by Benjamin Brown, the architect of Imperial Lofts' Art Deco half.
What kind of loft is Century Lofts?
Century Lofts is a hard loft: an older industrial or commercial building converted into homes, keeping features like brick, beams and big windows.
How many units are in Century Lofts?
Century Lofts has 41 units.
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