McGIFFIN, Robert Balmer (1873-1945), son of Capt. John S. McGiffin, commodore of the fleet of the Niagara Navigation Co., was born in Oakville, Ont. on 25 November 1873 and graduated from the School of Practical Science at the University of Toronto. He gained much of his architectural experience from some of the leading offices in Toronto, New York and San Francisco. In 1896-99 he articled with E.J. Lennox, then worked as a draftsman with David Roberts (in 1899-1900) and for F.H. Herbert (in 1900-02). After moving to New York City he found work with John Galen Howard (in 1902-04) and with Warren & Wetmore (in 1904-06). With these impressive professional credentials, McGiffin returned to Toronto and worked briefly under his own name, and in 1908 he was invited by Alfred Chapman to form a partnership (see list of works under Chapman & McGiffin). The younger brother of Robert McGiffin was Clare V. McGiffin (1887-1957) who was also an architect active in Toronto from 1905 until after 1950.
Their firm was successful in obtaining major commissions for important institutional and commercial clients, but an examination of drawings in the Chapman Collection at the Ontario Archives reveals that much of the design conception for these projects came from the hand of Chapman, not McGiffin, an indication that the latter may have contributed to the business and administrative aspects of the practise. After serving with the Royal Canadian Engineers during WWI he returned to Toronto in 1918 and formed a new partnership with Sanford F. Smith in 1920, but their business was dissolved in late 1925 and McGiffin continued to work under his own name until after 1940. He died in Toronto on 9 February 1945 (obit. Globe & Mail, 10 Feb. 1945, 5; biog. J. Middleton, The Municipality of Toronto, 1923, iii, 145; inf. Ontario Assoc. of Architects). A photographic portrait of McGiffin can be found in the Toronto architectural journal called Construction, ix, Jan. 1916, p. 7.
R.B. McGIFFIN (works in Toronto)
ST. CYPRIAN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH, Manning Avenue at Follis Avenue, 1906 (Toronto Daily Star, 26 June 1906, 9; C.R., xvii, 4 July 1906, 5; Canadian Churchman, 4 Oct. 1906, 632; Toronto b.p. 8 Oct. 1906, 5475)
DUNBAR ROAD, near Elm Avenue, residence for John S. McGiffin, 1907 (Toronto b.p. 7948, 6 June 1907)
BLOOR STREET WEST, near Spadina Avenue, residence for Dr. Fred W. Marlow, 1907 (Toronto b.p. 8062, 14 June 1907)
McGIFFIN & SMITH (works in Toronto unless noted)
WINDSOR, ONT., Bank of Hamilton Tower, Ouellette Avenue at Chatham Street, a nine storey commercial block, designed in 1920, but not built (Border Cities Star [Windsor], 28 April 1920, 3, illus.; inf. Robert Hamilton; inf. Andrew Foot, Windsor)
BROWN'S BREAD LTD., Eastern Avenue at Booth Avenue, major addition to factory, 1920 (C.R., xxxiv, 12 May 1920, 55; Toronto b.p. 32401, 29 June 1920)
SYDNEY MINES, N.S., Bank of Nova Scotia, 1921 (dwgs. at Bank of Nova Archives, Toronto)
OWEN SOUND, ONT., a major 2 storey addition to the Collegiate Institute, measuring 375 feet long, with local supervising architects Forster & Clark, 1922 (Owen Sound Sun-Times, 29 April 1922, 1, descrip.)
SWANSEA, MORNINGSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Morningside Avenue at Kennedy Avenue, 1922; addition by Robert B. McGiffin, 1927 (C.R., xxxvi, 17 May 1922, 146; Toronto Daily Star, 8 June 1927, 20)
NORTH YORK, mansion for Sir Clifford Sifton, Lawrence Avenue East at Bayview Avenue, begun 1922; completed by Smith & Everett, 1925 (C.R., xxxvi, 20 Sept. 1922, 58)
HILLSBURG, ONT., Union Bank, 1925 (dwgs. at Royal Bank Archives, Montreal)
R.B. McGIFFIN (works in Toronto)
RUNNYMEDE UNITED CHURCH, Runnymede Road opposite Glenwood Avenue, 1927-28 (Toronto Daily Star, 17 Sept. 1926, 9, t.c.; Toronto b.p. 96231, 2 March 1927; Canadian Engineer, liv, 22 May 1928, 549-50, illus. & descrip.)
ALBERT BRITNELL BOOK SHOP, Yonge Street opposite Cumberland Street, 1928; bookshop closed in 1999 and converted to commercial cafe, but original interior fittings and finishes remain in place; still standing in 2023 (inf. Toronto Historical Board)
SWANSEA FIRE HALL, Deforest Road at Lavina Avenue, 1930; still standing in 2023 (inf. Toronto Historical Board)
HIGHLAND DAIRY CO., Ontario Street near Bloor Street East, 1930-31; demol. 1964 (Toronto Daily Star, 7 Nov. 1930, 31; Telegram [Toronto], 5 May 1931, 5, illus.)