Lillian Massey Building, Heritage university building at Queens Park, Toronto, Canada
The Lillian Massey Building is a university structure in Toronto with limestone facades and columns topped with Ionic capitals at the intersection of Queens Park and Bloor Street. Multiple floors house academic and office spaces, with the ground level originally designed for retail use.
Construction took place between 1908 and 1912 and was designed to house the University of Toronto's Household Science program under the leadership of Lillian Massey Treble. The building's purpose shifted over time as different academic departments moved in and out of its spaces.
The building reflects how early 20th-century universities expressed their educational purpose through classical design and solid materials. Today the Department of Classics uses the spaces and shapes the daily rhythm within its halls.
The building sits at a major street corner at the campus edge and is easily reached on foot. Keep in mind this is an active workplace and access to certain areas may be restricted during busy academic periods.
The basement originally contained a swimming pool that was later converted into retail space with the addition of a false floor. This hidden change is no longer visible today but shows how buildings adapted their functions over time.
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