Lord Simcoe Hotel

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High-rise in Ontario, Canada

Lord Simcoe Hotel
The Lord Simcoe Hotel, c. 1980

General information
Type	High-rise
Architectural style	Modernist
Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Address	150 King Street West
Completed	1956
Demolished	1981
Client	Angus Robertson Ltd. J.A. Norton and Co. Ltd. RYBKA Teperman Group Williams & Williams Ltd. Toronto Stock Exchange
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Henry T. Langston, Peter Dickinson

Lord Simcoe Hotel was one of many now vanished hotels in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Built in 1956, the 20-storey concrete and glass modernist structure was designed by Henry T. Langston and Peter Dickinson. The hotel was named for John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada and a resident of York, Upper Canada (now Toronto). The name was somewhat incorrect as Simcoe was never called or given the title of Lord.

Located on the northeast corner of King Street and University Avenue (150 King Street West), it was closed in 1979 and torn down in 1981. It was replaced by the Sun Life Centre East Tower in 1984. The hotel was unable to compete with other downtown hotels due to a lack of central air conditioning and convention space. It consistently lost money over its 24-year existence.

References

"Lord Simcoe workers say goodbye to hotel that fell behind the times." The Globe and Mail. Oct 29, 1979. pg. P.5
"Lord Simcoe Hotel to be closed, torn down land to bring record $317 per square foot." Jack Willoughby. The Globe and Mail. Aug 4, 1979. pg. B.14