New York Life Insurance Building - Montreal, Quebec
Posted by: BruceS
N 45° 30.304 W 073° 33.430
18T E 612713 N 5040071
Historic office building in Montreal, Quebec.
Waymark Code: WMB43P
Location: Québec, Canada
Date Posted: 04/02/2011
Views: 63
"Montreal's New York Life Insurance Building (also known as the Quebec Bank Building) was erected in 1887-1889. Located at Place d'Armes in what is now known as Old Montreal, it was the tallest commercial building in Montreal at the time. The first eight floors were designed for retail office space, though were quickly rented by the city's best lawyers and financiers. As such, when the clock tower was completed, the 9th and 10th floors were occupied by the largest legal library in the entire country, a gift to the tenants from the owner.
The New York Life Insurance Building was built by architects Babb, Cook and Willard and contractor Peter Lyall for the New York Life Insurance Company as their offices in Canada. Sculptor Henry Beaumont enhanced the ornate exterior.
It is accessed via the Place-d'Armes Metro and is adjacent to other prominent Montreal landmarks, such as the Aldred Building (1931), the Bank of Montreal Building (1859/1901), the Place d'Armes Hotel, Notre-Dame Basilica and 500 Place D'Armes.
The name of the Quebec Bank is carved over the entrance. The bank occupied the ground floor and purchased the building in 1909, before being absorbed into the Royal Bank of Canada in 1917.
The Old Red Sandstone used in the construction was imported from Dumfriesshire, Scotland." - Wikipedia