Daniels Building Doors Open Toronto
A merging of 19th- and 21st-century architecture, the Daniels Building conveys a narrative that parallels the history of the city itself. Situated in a large roundabout, the circular site was originally constructed as a garden with views to Lake Ontario. The original neo-Gothic building was the first home of Knox College, a Presbyterian theological school. Later, it served as a military hospital during the First World War, the home of Connaught Laboratories, and an auxiliary and servicing facility for the University of Toronto. To create the new John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, the historical building was pared back to its roots, restoring original details. The contemporary addition integrates active, creative spaces, iconically represented by the design studio, with its soaring bow-tie truss ceiling and clerestory windows. The Main Hall boasts fins and stripes in charged colours that surprise and delight. As part of Digital Doors Open, check out the video below or consult their YouTube playlists to learn more.
- Digital Doors Open
- Video
- Kid-friendly
Architecture
Year built: 1875; 2017 restorationArchitect: Smith & Gemmel (restoration by NADAAA)
Architectural style: Contemporary, Gothic revival
Building type: Educational facility, Green building
Landscape: Landscape
Dates/hours open
Friday May 1 – Wednesday March 31, 2021Part of Digital Doors Open Toronto