Manulife Centre

For the highrise office building in Edmonton, see Manulife Place

Manulife Centre
General information
Type	Residential Condominium
Location	44 Charles Street and 55 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario Canada
Coordinates	43°40′10″N 79°23′18″W
Construction started	1972
Completed	1974
Technical details
Floor count	51

The Manulife Centre is located on the southeast corner of Bay and Bloor streets, along the Mink Mile and adjacent to the southern edge of the Yorkville district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It consists of a 51-storey 800-suite luxury residential tower at 44 Charles Street and a shorter tower at 55 Bloor Street West, connected by a retail complex on the main floor and basement.

History

Designed by the Toronto architectural firm of Clifford and Lawrie Architects, construction began in 1972 and was completed in 1974. It was developed and built for Manulife Financial, the current owners. Early retail tenants at the Manulife Centre included Bretton's department store (60,000 square feet), Creed's (38,000 square feet), Harridge's, and other luxury tenants. Over time, these three large retailers went bankrupt and closed.

Today

Today the retail portion of Manulife Centre serves the local population, and includes Birks, Indigo Books, and William Ashley fine china. Bay Bloor Radio, which was founded in 1946, moved into the Manulife Centre when it opened and remains there today. An underground tunnel connects the basement level of the shopping concourse to Holt Renfrew at 50 Bloor St West on the north side of Bloor.

The complete list of shops at the Manulife Centre is shown below:

• André Pierre
• Aver Media Finance
• Bay Bloor Radio
• Best One Convenience Store
• Birks
• Bloorstreet market
• BMO Bank of Montreal
• Bonny Satchels ‘n’ Duffles
• Canadian Blood Services
• Cineplex Varsity Cinemas
• De Catarina Leather
• Dr. G. Szeto (Dentist)
• Dr. Patricia A. Galvin (Optometrist)
• Eatertainment Special Events & Catering
• GNC
• Gobelins Fine Linens
• GoodLife Fitness Centre
• GRATiAE
• Haartek Salon
• HBG Eyewear
• Indigo Books, Gifts and Toys
• L’Express
• LCBO
• Lottery Wicket (Post Office)
• Manulife Centre Guest Services
• Manulife Centre Property Management Office
• Manulife Real Estate
• Nirvana Home Collection
• Parkers Custom Clothing Care
• Petra Karthaus
• Pharma Plus Drugmart
• Quattro Clothiers
• Ron White Shoes
• Roy’s Shoe Repair Bar
• Scaccia Italian Restaurant
• SNC Lavalin O&M
• Starbucks
• Stitch It Clothing Alterations
• The Bagel Stop
• The Bloor Street Diner
• The Great American Backrub
• The One Eighty
• The Printing House Limited
• Timothy’s Espresso Bar
• Timothy’s World Coffee
• Toronto Eye Care Optometric Clinic
• William Ashley China

The tower is served by Bay Station on the TTC's Bloor-Danforth line. Underground tunnels from the Manulife Centre provide access to Toronto's busiest subway station Bloor and Yonge.

See also

• The One Eighty which is on the top of the Manulife Centre.
• List of tallest buildings in Toronto
• List of tallest buildings in Canada

External links

• Manulife Centre - SHOPPING
• Manulife Place - LIVING