Working in the early 20th century, Benjamin Brown was one of the first Jewish architects to make a mark on Toronto. Now the Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre at the Ontario Jewish Archives has mounted an exhibit of his archives, including blueprints, drawings and plans spanning a 50-year career and nearly 100 new buildings. The show runs at the Urbanspace Gallery, 401 Richmond St. W., from Feb. 12 to April 23.

Balfour Building, 119 Spadina Ave.

Along with the Tower Building (its twin across the road), the Balfour Building helped form the gateway to the garment district. When construction was completed in 1930, it housed garment makers from furriers to tailors to coat makers. Now the large, lofty spaces of the heritage building are home to public relations, design and media firms.

Beth Jacob Synagogue, 23 and 23½ Henry St.

The Beth Jacob congregation existed in three locations before finding a home at 23 Henry St. in 1922. It was one of many congregations commissioning new buildings at the time to accommodate a growing population. The building was sold to its current resident, the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, in 1966 when the synagogue’s congregation moved to North York. Brown considered the building his crowning achievement.

The Hermant Building, 21 Dundas Square

When the Hermant Building rose on the corner of Victoria St. and Dundas Sq. in 1929, the square it edged was dubbed Wilton Square. Now the concrete and terracotta-clad building overlooks what Torontonians call Yonge-Dundas Square. A recent heritage renovation by ERA Architects restored the 1935 bronze entranceway.

Primrose Club, 41 Willcocks St.

Along with Arthur W. McConnell, Brown designed the Georgian Revival-style building with elements of the 1890 residence that originally sat on the site to house the Primrose Club, an elite Jewish social club. The University of Toronto purchased the building in 1959 to house its Faculty Club, which still calls the Willcocks St. spot home today.

New Textile Building, 205 Richmond St.

Commissioned by brothers Moses and Louis Gelber, the New Textile Building was completed in 1924. Though they ran a successful garment business, the brothers appear to have rented out the space to others in the industry, never using it for their own production. The building is used today by OCAD University.