Former Marlborough Hotel
331 Smith Street

Before World War I, this hotel was known as "The Olympia". Business suffered at the beginning due to the War and Prohibition. For a short time, the hotel was run by the federal government to house Canadian soldiers. Castle-like, with its arched windows, stained glass, buttresses and quatrefoil (four-leafed design) parapet, this otherwise plain brick-faced building is a wonderful example of the Gothic Revival style, popular at the time for public buildings. Architects felt the style was suited to the new skyscrapers form because it stressed vertical rather than horizontal design elements. The Gothic detailing is crafted from a grey-white terra cotta. The dramatic base (the original building) features green and yellow floral motifs, also of terra cotta, and at one time, inset electric lights. Typical of its designers, James Chisholm & Son, but rare among architects, they marked the building with their 'signature' (seen on the south or lane-side wall, very close to the Smith Street sidewalk).