Lillian Massey Building
| Lillian Massey Building | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Former names | Department of Household Science |
| General information | |
| Location | 153 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | George M. Miller |
The Lillian Massey Building is a Neoclassical building located in Downtown Toronto, at the southeast corner of Queen's Park and Bloor Street along the Mink Mile and across from the Royal Ontario Museum. It was designed by architect George Martell Miller (1855–1933) and built between 1908 and 1912 for the University of Toronto's Household Science program created by Lillian Massey Treble, daughter of wealthy Canadian business man, Hart Massey.[1] It presently houses the offices of the University of Toronto's Department of Classics and Centre for Medieval Studies and the offices of the University of Toronto's Division of University Advancement. Part of the building previously housed Club Monaco’s flagship retail store until 2021.[2] In October 2024, the chair of the Victoria University Property Management Committee, Brian Johnston (best known for his role in the death of 300 seniors due to COVID-19 mismanagement at Sienna Senior Living),[3] elected to evict the Classics Department by 2027 and rent Lilian Massey to a luxury clothing outlet.[4][5]
Architecture
[edit]Designed by George Martell Miller in the Neoclassical style, the building features Indiana Limestone facades with columns topped with Ionic capitals. There are several pediments including one supported by columns forming the grand portico fronting Queen's Park. The interior of the University of Toronto part of the building has been kept almost unchanged, featuring marble tile flooring and finishes, while the Club Monaco interiors were modified to fit the needs of a retail store.
Fort Architects renovated the interior of Club Monaco's part of the building with drywall and hardwood flooring before installing shelves. The original underground pool was covered by a false floor to house the men's section of the store.[6] Landscaping was kept to a minimum as tree planters were used in front of the Club Monaco facade to frame its entrance.
References
[edit]
- ^ Roberts, David. "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online". University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
- ^ "Lillian Massey Department of Household Science". U of T Capital Projects.
- ^ "Coronavirus: Ontario's worst hit nursing homes and who owns them | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Board of Regents Agenda" (PDF). Victoria University.
- ^ "Board of Regents Property Committee" (PDF). Victoria University.
- ^ "Lillian Massey Department of Household Science". U of T Capital Projects. Retrieved 6 March 2011.