Raleigh Apartments

• its dual corner location on the west side of Vaughan Street at Ellice Avenue and Webb Place
• the building's situation, flanked by public sidewalks on three sides and by a narrow rear (west) lane
• the building's visual relationships with nearby municipally designated sites, including Isbister School, the YMCA and the Former Public Press Building

Key elements that distinguish the block's refined Art Deco-style exterior include:

• the rectangular three-storey mass over a raised basement, U-shaped due to a large rear recess and with a concrete foundation, flat brick walls, a flat roof and high brick chimney
• the colourful combination of finishes, including red brick and textured stucco, with accents of dark brown brick and light limestone, etc.
• the three striking street-facing elevations, symmetrically organized on the east, with offset entrance bays on the south and north, and with each side defined by vertically aligned fenestration, entrance bay pilasters, vertical and horizontal banding elements, bold brick lintels and window surrounds, etc.
• the many windows, generally flat-headed and of four-, six- or eight-over-one sash construction, plainly finished and grouped in singles or doubles except for stairway openings over the entrances
• the elegant east and south entrance bays, marked by flared and geometrically detailed limestone pilasters in abstracted Classical lines, stone entablatures carved with 'THE RALEIGH', stylized wrought-iron balconies, arched upper windows, oak doors with arched glass lights and sidelights, etc.
• details such as the parapet with stone coping and alternating flat and raised sections, geometrically carved stone pilaster and corner caps, stucco spandrels, geometric wall patterns, etc.

Key elements that define the building's interior character and residential function include:

• the intact layout of double-loaded central corridors and suites of various sizes and features
• the finely appointed common elements, such as the east entrance's vaulted ceiling, green wall tiles and green and white honeycomb floor tiles, the tile finishes of the south and north entrances, the three staircases with oak handrails and iron balusters and posts, etc.
• the functional suites finished plainly with hardwood millwork, tiled bathrooms, oak doors, milk delivery compartments and in some cases fireplaces with generous oak mantels, etc.