
New University of Toronto Building With Lovely Contrasts
The building at 90 Queens Park Crescent features a bold design with one side of the façade “eroded” to reflect the lines of the historic Falconer Hall

A new building planned for the University of Toronto campus will harmonize new architecture with old and provide a space to be shared between several academic disciplines as well as between the university and the wider community.
The building at 90 Queens Park Crescent features a bold design with one side of the façade “eroded” to reflect the lines of the historic Falconer Hall, a building dating back to the 1900s. Its architects, DS+R, say that their design also harmonizes with the adjacent Flavelle House which features a neoclassical façade.
Striking Design Features Emphasize UT’s Community Connection
The central atrium and central staircase are striking features of the building. This area is to be open to the public and will offer study spaces, lounge spaces, and meeting rooms. The concept behind this approach is that the different faculties within the building can use the space to collaborate with each other and with the local community.
Since the building is expected to attract visitors from any given direction, a spacious entry plaza on the Southern side of the building, while the Northern approach features a café and restaurant with outdoor seating in gently terraced gardens.
The recital hall and event space are among the most striking features of the building. They “float” within the erosion, and large windows make the most of views over the city. In the recital hall, a large window behind the stage frames a dramatic view of the city skyline.
A “Campus Within a Campus”
The university calls its new building a “campus within a campus” and it will house disciplines as diverse as law and the arts, bringing students together in the central, shared spaces that form such a prominent feature of the building.