Thursday Doors

Linking up at Norm's Thursday Doors.

May 2018 - Toronto ON

The weather was finally warm and nice enough to go wandering around. My mission was the cherry blossoms at the University of Toronto's Robarts Library and I found some doors on my route.

Another Thursday Doors on the University of Toronto
St. Basil Church
Doors Open 2015

The economics department recently unveiled a $15-million renovation and expansion to its home on St. George Street. The new facility, named Max Gluskin House, connects the department’s original Victorian and Georgian Revival buildings with a glass-enclosed hallway, and a modern three-storey addition.

Ira Gluskin, who graduated from U of T’s commerce and finance program in 1964, provided the lead gift for the renovation. The facility is named in honour of his father, Max, who graduated from the same program in 1936.

Innis College Student Residence

Innis College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Toronto. It is one of the University of Toronto's smallest colleges in terms of size and the second smallest college in terms of population with approximately 1870 registered students. It is named after prominent University of Toronto political economist Harold Innis.

The College includes a fully equipped cinema, supporting 35mm, 16mm, and all digital presentation formats, known as Innis Town Hall, which hosts numerous film festivals, free film screenings, and a variety of other cultural events. It also serves as a venue for Hot Docs, which is North America's largest documentary film festival.

Chelsea Shop looks like a bookstore from the windows. There are several businesses on the other floors. As to the history of the building, I couldn't find anything.
The owner is listed as the University of Toronto.

The John P. Robarts Research Library, commonly referred to as Robarts Library, is the main humanities and social sciences library of the University of Toronto Libraries and the largest individual library in the university. Opened in 1973 and named for John Robarts, the 17th Premier of Ontario, the library contains more than 4.5 million bookform items, 4.1 million microform items and 740,000 other items.

The library building is one of the most significant examples of brutalist architecture in North America. Its towering main structure rests on an equilateral triangular footprint and features extensive use of triangular geometric patterns throughout. It forms the main component of a three-tower complex that also includes the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library and the Claude Bissel Building, which houses the Faculty of Information. The library's imposing appearance has earned it the nickname of Fort Book.

Sir Daniel Wilson Hall is named after Sir Daniel Wilson, a University College Professor of History and English. Wilson was the President of University College from 1880 to 1892, and later became the President of the University of Toronto from 1889 to 1892. The original University College residence was a men's residence located in the cloisters, or the west wing of the main college building, which is now office space. In the 1880s this residence was converted into classroom and office space. A new residence was constructed in 1954. This residence was the male counterpart to the all-female Whitney Hall until 1980, when it became co-ed. Today, Sir Daniel Wilson residence is home to 200 students in primarily single rooms. The residence is divided into six houses: McCaul, Loudon, Hutton, Wallace, Taylor, and Jeanneret.

Loudon House

James Loudon, a University College graduate of 1862, was a Professor of Mathematics and Physics and became the third President of University College (1892-1901) and the University of Toronto (1892-1906).

Howard Ferguson was an active member of the University College Lit in the 1890's who later became Premier of Ontario. The Ferguson Block in Queen's Park was also named for him. His wife helped raise funds for the dining hall named in his honour.

Looking back towards the entrance.

The main door on the east side of University College, facing Hart House Circle.

Having first met off campus, the University of Toronto Homophile Association (UTHA) convened again on November 4, 1969, at University College to advocate equality and freedom for gay men and lesbians. This was the first group of its kind at a Canadian university. Early on, UTHA attracted supporters far beyond the University of Toronto community, influencing the formation of like-minded groups on university campuses and in communities across Ontario and the country. UTHA was closely connected to a larger North American liberationist culture that sought to bring visibility to traditionally marginalized sexual minorities by challenging the discriminatory practices and beliefs of the state and society. This movement continued to grow through protest, coalition building and community education, countering prejudice and asserting the necessity of recognizing diversity.

And now I will leave you by the garden gate at Flavelle House.