Graduate House, University of Toronto

Thom Mayne/Morphosis
2000



Graduate student residence space

This building, designed by the California-based firm Morphosis, has been controversial because of its ominous charcoal-colored precast concrete panels evoking a prison more than genial student housing. The eight stories accommodate almost 500 students as well as services on the ground floor (cafe, stores, etc.). It is dramatically sited as a kind of entrance from the west to the university campus.
A gap in the facade, barely visible in the center photograph, leads to a sunken courtyard around which the residence hall is wrapped.
 

The south-facing Harbord Street facade

Along Harbord Street, the facade is composed of several sections--a combination of perforated metal screens, metal cladding, and precast concrete.

 

Glass and steel cantilevered bridge over Harbord Street

Super graphics, reminiscent of the post modern works of Venturi Scott Brown (see Index) indicate the "UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO," in embossed glass with the terminal "O" in three dimensions.




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© 2010 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.