Canada Malting Silos is one of two remaining silos in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
's Harbourfront in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada. Located at the foot of Bathurst Street at Bathurst Quay (Eireann Quay), the silos were built in 1928 to store
malt
Malt is germinated cereal grain that has been dried in a process known as " malting". The grain is made to germinate by soaking in water and is then halted from germinating further by drying with hot air.
Malted grain is used to make beer, wh ...
for the
Canada Malting Company
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world ...
. It was an important work of industrial architecture, as
grain elevator
A grain elevator is a facility designed to stockpile or store grain. In the grain trade, the term "grain elevator" also describes a tower containing a bucket elevator or a pneumatic conveyor, which scoops up grain from a lower level and deposits ...
s had long been built out of wood, and thus were at great danger of fire. The concrete malting towers were an innovation, and the stark functionalism of the prominent building was an early influence on
modernist architecture
Modern architecture, or modernist architecture, was an architectural movement or architectural style based upon new and innovative technologies of construction, particularly the use of glass, steel, and reinforced concrete; the idea that form ...
. A round office was added in 1944 and glass office was built in the original construction in 1928. The main silos, 15 in all, are 120 feet (37 meters) high and additional storage bins built in 1944 are 150 feet (46 meters) high.
It was abandoned in the 1980s and destined for demolition, but it was designated a heritage site by the city of Toronto. A group called Metronome Canada Incorporated, led by President John Harris, hoped to convert the silos into a music museum or theme park. The city of Toronto is also considering it as a location for a municipal history museum.
Demolition of the germination and kiln buildings began early September 2010. The silos will be left standing, eventually being incorporated into future developments on the site. The municipality has not yet decided exactly what will be done with the space once the demolition project is complete.
City looks to develop former Canada Malting site
''The Globe and Mail'' September 15, 2010
See also
* Canada Malting Silos, Montreal
* Victory Soya Mills Silos
Victory Soya Mills Silos are abandoned soybean storage silos in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The silos are located at the east end of Toronto Harbour, part of a soybean processing facility that operated from 1944 until 1991. The silos are of two rema ...
– still standing
* Maple Leaf Mills Silos Maple Leaf Mills Silos was one of two silo or grain elevator complexes that were built in the area between Spadina Quay and Maple Leaf Quay, on Toronto Harbour, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was one of three "monumental" silo complexes that domi ...
– demolished 1983
Notes
References
Canada Malting Silos
N*tropy – Canada Malting Silos
{{coord, 43.635029, N, 79.396262, W, region:CA-ON_type:landmark, display=title
Buildings and structures in Toronto
Grain elevators in Canada
Harbourfront, Toronto
Industrial buildings completed in 1928