[4] At the time of opening, the top floor of Union Bank was the second-highest in the British Empire, just 1 metre (3.3 ft) below London's tallest building.

Union Bank Tower is the oldest surviving of Canada's tallest buildings to incorporate a steel skeleton structure that fully supports a light-weight, veneer 'curtain wall' facade—a design innovation that facilitated the proliferation of skyscrapers in the 20th century.

[5] Moreover, Union Bank Tower had the largest and fastest elevator in Western Canada and was the first building in the nation to introduce the modern concept of a general contractor to oversee construction.

Initially built for the Union Bank of Canada, it remained vacant for 18 years beginning in the late 1990s, until it was redeveloped into the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute and student housing for Red River College in 2013.

[9] Designed by two of Canada’s top architects, Frank Darling and John Andrew Pearson,[10] the Union Bank Tower follows the classical palazzo model, one of two Beaux Arts-inspired forms used for early skyscrapers.

[2] Designed by two of Canada’s top architects, Frank Darling and John Andrew Pearson,[10] the Union Bank Tower is an example of the Chicago architectural style.

The Paterson Globalfoods Institute is an addition to RRC PolytechExchange District Campus that was completed in January 2013,[7] and serves as the new home of the Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism Management and Professional Baking and Patisserie programs.

[16] Both the exterior as well as a significant amount of the interior of the Tower (including the main floor banking hall) were fully restored as part of the renovation.