Office Space: $64 per square foot for Victorian grandeur in the historic Flatiron Building
ADDRESS: 49 Wellington Street East
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Church-Yonge Corridor
AGENT: Cushman and Wakefield
PRICE: $64 gross rent per square foot
THE PLACE: Stained glass windows, sumptuous hardwood floors, ominous vaults and the city’s first manually operated Otis elevator: the nearby bank towers seem so vanilla next to this historic red-brick building. Every space is rich with architectural detail, but each floor is somewhat unique: the first level, for example, offers fireplaces in nearly every office, while the fifth floor has gorgeous exposed rafters and a stunning view of St. Lawrence Market.
THE STORY: George Gooderham put up the wedge-shaped, David Roberts Jr. –designed building in 1892 to house the headquarters of his booming distillery business, Gooderham and Worts. The Flatiron cost $18,000 to construct, making it the most expensive office building in Toronto at the time, and was finished in 1892, a full 10 years before that other, more famous Flatiron building in New York City. Theirs might be showier, but hey, we got there first.
THE IDEAL TENANT: Lawyers and accountants have both come knocking, but the late Victorian architecture is really more suitable for someone who wears a top hat and carries a cane to work. So basically, Scrooge McDuck or Rich Uncle Pennybags.
THE DETAILS:
• 16,000 square feet
• 120 years of history
• $64 per square foot
• 12-foot ceilings
• 5 floors
• 1 original Otis elevator
• 1 elevator operator/concierge named Henry
114620 Stained glass window 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_37-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_37.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_37.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_37/ jan12officeflatiron_37 0 0
Stained glass window
114619 Inside the turret 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_36-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_36.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_36.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_36/ jan12officeflatiron_36 0 0
Inside the turret
114618 Exposed rafters on the top floor 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_35-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_35.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_35.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_35/ jan12officeflatiron_35 0 0
Exposed rafters on the top floor
114617 Reception area 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_33-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_33.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_33.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_33/ jan12officeflatiron_33 0 0
Reception area
114616 More offices 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_31-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_31.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_31.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_31/ jan12officeflatiron_31 0 0
More offices
114615 A hallway lined with offices 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_30-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_30.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_30.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_30/ jan12officeflatiron_30 0 0
A hallway lined with offices
114614 Another view of St. Lawrence Market 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_25.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_25/ jan12officeflatiron_25 0 0
Another view of St. Lawrence Market
114613 Bob Cratchit could sit in here 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_23.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_23/ jan12officeflatiron_23 0 0
Bob Cratchit could sit in here
114612 Corner office, looking toward St. Lawrence Market 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_21.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_21/ jan12officeflatiron_21 0 0
Corner office, looking toward St. Lawrence Market
114611 The detail around the opening is spectacular 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_20b-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_20b.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_20b.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_20b/ jan12officeflatiron_20b 0 0
The detail around the opening is spectacular
114610 One of the fireplaces 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_20.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_20/ jan12officeflatiron_20 0 0
One of the fireplaces
114609 That desk looks like a caterpillar 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_18.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_18/ jan12officeflatiron_18 0 0
That desk looks like a caterpillar
114608 The office looks like a setting from a Dickens novel 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_16.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_16/ jan12officeflatiron_16 0 0
The office looks like a setting from a Dickens novel
114607 The cage for the original Otis elevator is on the right 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_15.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_15/ jan12officeflatiron_15 0 0
The cage for the original Otis elevator is on the right
114606 Fancy chandelier 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_14.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_14/ jan12officeflatiron_14 0 0
Fancy chandelier
114605 ...like this old letter slot 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_13.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_13/ jan12officeflatiron_13 0 0
…like this old letter slot
114604 Some of the original hardware is unreal... 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_11.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_11/ jan12officeflatiron_11 0 0
Some of the original hardware is unreal…
114603 Or hide and seek 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_8.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_8/ jan12officeflatiron_8 0 0
Or hide and seek
114602 It would be fun to play cops and robbers in this building 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_7.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_7/ jan12officeflatiron_7 0 0
It would be fun to play cops and robbers in this building
114601 Old safes dot the building; many have been converted into closet space 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_5.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_5/ jan12officeflatiron_5 0 0
Old safes dot the building; many have been converted into closet space
114600 Banister 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_4b-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_4b.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_4b.jpg 624 419 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_4b/ jan12officeflatiron_4b 0 0
Banister
114599 Beautiful old stairs 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_4.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_4/ jan12officeflatiron_4 0 0
Beautiful old stairs
114598 A Toronto icon 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_1.jpg 420 620 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_1/ jan12officeflatiron_1 0 0
A Toronto icon
114621 49 Wellington St. E. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/jan12OfficeFlatiron_intro.jpg 656 440 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-wellington-st-east/slide/jan12officeflatiron_intro/ jan12officeflatiron_intro 0 0
You forgot Mr. Peanut, he also “wears a top hat and carries a cane to work.”
For me, this building is simply exquisite.
Nic…should be $200 per sq ft to deter people from moving there and cant appreciate a fine piece of building. Wish Toronto Life would have used the opportunity to have some worthwhile comments on the historical significant of the building and interior versus the usual tired comments.
really love this building ♥
i didn’t know income is a factor in appreciating architecture.. :S
Some other pics – http://commercialofficeleasing.com/listings/49-wellington-street-east-flatiron-building