Built
Built in about 1910 and fully restored in 2002.

Ceiling Height
13' 6" to 20'

Bay Size
From 10' x 20'

Elevators
1 passenger and 2 freight elevators.

Window Details
Operable industrial sash and operable casement windows.

Heat
Perimeter hot water/gas; 5 to 6 zones per floor.

Air Conditioning
VAV; 3 to 9 zones per floor, split systems.

Ample Parking
Time-consuming and sometimes unnerving multi-level parking problems are not a concern at York Liberty Buildings. Parking is provided mere steps from the door at current market rates.

Public Transit
The buildings are a ten-minute ride from the financial core on the King streetcar. The Dufferin bus stops right outside the front door and it is a five-minute walk to the Exhibition GO Train station.

Lobby Details
3-storey atrium.

Exterior
Toronto red brick and stucco façade, with large industrial metal sash windows.

Interior
Hardwood floors, sandblasted brick feature walls, heavy timber construction, with many suites featuring timber trusses.

Well-Located
York Liberty Buildings are located in the heart of Liberty Village near the Dufferin Gates to the Exhibition Grounds, steps from the King streetcar and the Exhibition GO Train station. The Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard to the south provide immediate access by car. The Liberty Village area is a remarkable campus-style community where IT companies, designers, architects, production companies, boutique law firms and software developers are the core of a unique creative community.

Technology
Toronto’s most wired community, with extremely fast, secure and economical connectivity.

Air Quality
At all York Heritage buildings, air quality is regularly assessed and compared to Canadian and international air quality standards. Ample fresh air. MERV-13 air filters are changed every six months.

Natural Light
Natural light illuminates the offices on all four sides of each building atrium.

High Ceilings
High ceilings, exposed masonry and heavy timber columns and beams give designers the flexibility to create an environment that reflects a company’s unique corporate culture.

Security a Priority
With only three floors to serve and no underground parking garage, we are able to expedite the job with efficiency. A fully-integrated sprinkler, smoke detection and building access system connects to a 24-hour/7-day control centre. The building’s front door and elevator lock automatically at the close of each business day – entry is restricted to authorized personnel with access fobs. Visitor access, after hours, is controlled by a tele-entry system. Additional security is provided after hours.

Notable Tenants
Softchoice

"I'd say that in my experience most candidates who come in to visit comment immediately on how "cool, funky, and different" our office environment is and that it really seems to resonate with them. People spend so much time at work that it really ought to be a comfortable environment that exudes and inspires energy and productivity. It's been a conscious decision on our part over the years to invest in the environmental aspects of our employee's work space."

— Senior Recruiter, Human Resources - Softchoice

The area where 173 Dufferin now stands was vacant or agricultural land until residential was built in the late 1800’s. 1890 is the first year that 173 Dufferin is listed. By 1894, properties at 159 and 161 Dufferin are listed as residential as well. [Note that numbering appears to have undergone minor changes from time to time on these streets.]

By 1910 the Goads’ Insurance Atlas shows the site at 163 to 187 Dufferin occupied by Toronto Furniture Co. Ltd., including office, showroom, machine and shipping room, boiler room, coal room, and electric room. Properties at 159 and 161 Dufferin Street are shown as residential houses. Properties currently referred to as 18 Mowat and 22 Mowat were listed as parts of 163 and 173 Dufferin, correspondingly. The property at 18 Mowat was added to the 163 Dufferin building in the early 1940’s.

By 1920 the Mights directories show the site at 165 to 187 Dufferin Street occupied by Curtis Aeroplane Works. Properties at 159 and 161 Dufferin Street were residential and light commercial.

By 1930, Mights directories and Underwriters’ Insurance Atlas show a number of factories occupying sites at 165 to 187 Dufferin Street. 22 Mowat is occupied by an oil and leather company. Property at 163 Dufferin Street is occupied by Carbide & Carbon Chemicals, a division of Bakelite Plastics.

Properties at 165 to 187 Dufferin Street continue to be occupied by various factories until circa 1955 when CGE lamp and lighting service department is listed at this location in Mights. Similarly, 163 Dufferin was occupied by Bakelite Plastics until circa 1955 after which it is listed as a CGE warehouse. CGE expanded southward from the plant, initially operating as the Edison Lamp Company, manufacturers of electric light bulbs.

In the late 1980’s the numbering of the street was changed and 163 Dufferin from then on is listed as 159 Dufferin. In 1989 it was occupied by offices and factories and in 1995 by Lyn Leather Co. Ltd. and Green Apple Carpentry.

 Properties at 165 to 187 Dufferin continued to be occupied by various tenants, of mostly commercial and light industrial designation from approximately 1989 when CGE discontinued its operations at the site.

LOCATION
173 Dufferin Street
Toronto ON M6K 3H7

To find out more information about the York Liberty Buildings, please contact David DeNoble at (416) 941-9734.