YOLLES, Louis S., or Leon S. (1893-1981) practiced as an architect in Toronto from 1910 until 1916 and carried out many industrial and residential commissions for members of the thriving Jewish community in that city before World War I. Both he and Benjamin Swartz were among the first Jewish architects to work in the province of Ontario. In 1917 he changed his title to that of 'contractor' (inf. Toronto City Directory, 1917-1920) and formed a partnership with Harry Rotenberg, a lawyer with whom he operated a business under the title 'Yolles & Rotenburg, Contractors'. This firm was one of the earliest property development companies in Toronto, and they undertook the design and construction of many landmark speculative office and loft buildings such as the Hobberlin Building, Adelaide Street West (1920), the Dominion Building, Bay Street at Albert Street, 1927 (burned 1979), and the Sterling Tower, Bay Street (1928; designed by Chapman & Oxley). Yolles later became president of Y&R Properties Ltd. after World War II and died in Toronto on 28 July 1981 (obituary in Globe & Mail, 29 July 1981, 12; inf. Mr. Morden S. Yolles, Toronto).
Louis S. YOLLES (works in Toronto)
EDWARD STREET, near Elizabeth Street, warehouse for L.M. Schwartz, 1910 (Toronto b.p. 18966, 9 Feb. 1910)
McCAUL STREET, near D'Arcy Street. store and dwelling for Caplan Brothers, 1910 (Toronto b.p. 20214, 29 April 1910)
RICHMOND STREET WEST, near Duncan Street, warehouse for the Gelber Brothers, 1910 (Toronto b.p. 23331, 17 Sept. 1910)
KENDAL AVENUE, near Dupont Street, apartment building for the Dundas Building Co., 1911 (Toronto b.p. 30997, 20 Oct. 1911)
SCOTLAND WOOLEN MILLS, Richmond Street East near Victoria Street, warehouse, 1911-12 (Toronto b.p. 31888, 1 Dec. 1911)
DUNDAS STREET WEST, near Gladstone Avenue, commercial block for J. Baker, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 3 Jan. 1912, 67, t.c.)
DENISON AVENUE, warehouse for S. Fremes & Co., 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 31 Jan. 1912, 66)
PETER STREET, near King Street West, warehouse for L. Yolles, 1912 (Toronto b.p. 32738, 29 Feb. 1912)
BALDWIN STREET, near Beverley Street, apartment block for Samuel Yolles, 1912 (C.R., xxvi, 6 March 1912, 67)
WILLIAM STREET, warehouse for S.N. Yolles, 1913 (Toronto b.p. 2679, 28 March 1913)
CLAREMONT STREET, near Dundas Street West, residence for the Soren Brothers, 1913 (Toronto b.p. 6409, 21 Aug. 1913)
VICTORIA PAPER & TWINE CO., Wellington Street West near Spadina Avenue, warehouse, 1913 (C.R., xxvii, 3 Sept. 1913, 73)
QUAKER CANDY CO., Queen Street East near Parliament Street, warehouse and factory, 1913 (Toronto b.p. 7903, 6 Nov. 1913)
FIVE-IN-ONE ENVELOPE CO., Hayter Street, factory and warehouse, 1914 (Toronto b.p. 9256, 20 Feb. 1914)
SOREN BROTHERS TIN PLATE MFRS., King Street West near Spadina Avenue, warehouse, 1914 (Toronto b.p. 9522, 10 March 1914)
F.S. THOMAS BOOKBINDERS, John Street near Stephanie Street, warehouse, 1914 (Toronto b.p. 13562, 27 July 1914)
WILLARDS CHOCOLATES LTD., Wellington Street West near Spadina Avenue, factory, 1917 (Const., x, Aug. 1917, 286)
F.W. WOOLWORTH STORE, Danforth Avenue at Logan Avenue, 1917 (Const., x, Nov. 1917, 398)
ROUS & MANN CO., Simcoe Street near Queen Street West, factory and warehouse, 1918 (Toronto b.p. 18212, 8 Aug. 1918)
HOBBERLIN BUILDING [now called The Capitol Building], Adelaide Street West near Spadina Avenue, factory and warehouse, 1920 (C.R., xxxiv, 31 March 1920, 300-01, illus. & descrip.; 24 Nov. 1920, 1115, illus. & descrip.)