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The six-storey Hermant Annex and 14-storey eastern tower were designed by Benjamin Brown in 1920 and 1930 respectively. The building is named after Percy Hermant and served as the headquarters for his company, Imperial Optical. The Hermant Building was built at Wilton Square - which was later renamed Dundas Square. Benjamin Brown's office was located in the Hermant Building in the 1940s. The offices of the Canadian Jewish Review were housed in the building on Dundas Square. The buildings were designated as heritage buildings in 1990.
Hermant Building, 1930-present
- Address
- 21 Dundas Square
- Source
- Landmarks
The six-storey Hermant Annex and 14-storey eastern tower were designed by Benjamin Brown in 1920 and 1930 respectively. The building is named after Percy Hermant and served as the headquarters for his company, Imperial Optical. The Hermant Building was built at Wilton Square - which was later renamed Dundas Square. Benjamin Brown's office was located in the Hermant Building in the 1940s. The offices of the Canadian Jewish Review were housed in the building on Dundas Square. The buildings were designated as heritage buildings in 1990.
- Address
- 21 Dundas Square
- Time Period
- 1930-present
- Scope Note
- The six-storey Hermant Annex and 14-storey eastern tower were designed by Benjamin Brown in 1920 and 1930 respectively. The building is named after Percy Hermant and served as the headquarters for his company, Imperial Optical. The Hermant Building was built at Wilton Square - which was later renamed Dundas Square. Benjamin Brown's office was located in the Hermant Building in the 1940s. The offices of the Canadian Jewish Review were housed in the building on Dundas Square. The buildings were designated as heritage buildings in 1990.
- History
- Percy Hermant was born in Mogilev, Russia in 1882. In 1897, he immigrated to Canada, arriving in New Brunswick, where he began working as a dry goods peddler. In 1900, he founded the Imperial Optical Company, the first prescription lens business in the Maritimes. This company eventually grew to be the largest company of its kind in the British Commonwealth. In addition to his successful business, he was very involved with philanthropic and community activities within Jewish and non-Jewish circles. He sponsored academic and musical scholarships.
- Category
- Architecture
- Manufacturer
- Medical
- Source
- Landmarks
![Ground floor plan of lavatories of the Hermant Building at 21 Dundas Square, [between 1929 and 1930]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, fonds 49, series 3, file 97.|](/media/Digital Assets/49-Brown/49-3-97/F49-s3-f97_i10.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
![South elevation drawing of the Hermant Building at 21 Dundas Square, [between 1929 and 1930]. Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, fonds 49, series 3, file 97.|](/media/Digital Assets/49-Brown/49-3-97/F49-s3-f97_i5.jpg?maxheight=1000&maxwidth=1000&watermark=wmk)
