University College, National historic university building at St. George Campus, Toronto, Canada
Description
University College is a national historic university building at the St. George Campus in Toronto and serves as one of the founding colleges of the University of Toronto. The yellow sandstone structure consists of a central tower, two lateral wings, and a round structure enclosing a traditional courtyard on the northern end.
History
The college was established in 1859 as a secular institution by the provincial government and marked the transition from religious to state-supported higher education in Canada. A devastating fire in 1890 destroyed the eastern wing, but the exterior walls remained standing and allowed a reconstruction that preserved the original design.
Culture
The building carries a name that reflects the tradition of secular higher education as distinct from denominational institutions, and its facade displays elaborate stonework with Gothic arches and Romanesque rounded openings. Students and visitors often notice the heavy wooden doors and wrought-iron fittings that give the campus a medieval appearance.
Practical
The building sits centrally on the campus and can be reached from several entrances, with the main entrance facing south. Visitors should note that this is an active academic building and may be busy during class periods.
Did you know?
During the reconstruction after the fire, workers discovered the charred remains of a stonemason in a hidden room behind a wall. The legend of the ghost Ivan Reznikoff claims he was driven by passion for a woman, though the story was later revealed as a hoax.
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