Architect: Kohn Shnier, ERA Architects
Location: Toronto
Completion Date: 2022
University College is a historic gothic building on the University of Toronto campus. Built in 1859, the structure is a designated National Historic Site. In 1890, a fire broke out in the building, destroying the college’s library. After the fire, the building was reconstructed, however, the library was never reinstated.
Seeking to restore the original library and improve accessibility within the building, University of Toronto issued a Request for Proposal in 2018. Kohn Shnier, a boutique Toronto–based firm, and ERA Architects, a practice focused on historic preservation, collaborated on a proposal for a new copper-clad elevator tower that addressed these needs while respecting the historic facades of University College.
