BENJAMIN BROWN (1890-1974)
Title
BENJAMIN BROWN (1890-1974)
Description
Benjamin Brown, one of Toronto’s first Jewish architects, designed more than 200 buildings throughout his career. Born in Lithuania, he came to Toronto as a child. Brown graduated from the University of Toronto’s architecture program in 1913. He was partners with architect Robert McConnell until 1921, when he set up an independent practice.
Commissioned largely by members of Toronto’s Jewish community, Brown’s projects ranged form parking garages and gas stations to apartment houses and factory lofts. His Tower Building (1927) and Balfour Building (1930) on Spadina Avenue at Adelaide Street formed a gateway to Toronto’s garment district. Other well-known buildings by Brown include the Hermant Building (1929) on Dundas Square, the Primrose Club (1920), and the Beth Jacob Synagogue (1922), the first Toronto synagogue designed by a Jewish architect. Brown retired in 1955.
HERITAGE TORONTO 2015
Commissioned largely by members of Toronto’s Jewish community, Brown’s projects ranged form parking garages and gas stations to apartment houses and factory lofts. His Tower Building (1927) and Balfour Building (1930) on Spadina Avenue at Adelaide Street formed a gateway to Toronto’s garment district. Other well-known buildings by Brown include the Hermant Building (1929) on Dundas Square, the Primrose Club (1920), and the Beth Jacob Synagogue (1922), the first Toronto synagogue designed by a Jewish architect. Brown retired in 1955.
HERITAGE TORONTO 2015
Creator
Sarah J. McCabe
Date
September 30, 2018
Files
Collection
Citation
Sarah J. McCabe, “BENJAMIN BROWN (1890-1974),” Historic Plaques of Ontario: An Omeka Demo Site, accessed May 3, 2024, https://ontarioplaques.omeka.net/items/show/239.