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The Colonnade

Brutalist architectureBrutalist architecture in CanadaCity of Toronto Heritage PropertiesHistory of TorontoToronto
6409 26 Colonnade Toronto 1964 (51189011412)
6409 26 Colonnade Toronto 1964 (51189011412)

The Colonnade is a 14-storey mixed-use building in Toronto, Ontario. The building was conceived in 1959 by architect Gerald Robinson, whose design was influenced by the work of Le Corbusier. Construction began in 1961 and the building opened in the fall of 1963, though it was not completed until the spring of 1964. The building occupies a property owned by Victoria University that was leased in 1961 for 100 years. When it opened, the building contained stores, a theatre, offices, and apartments. The Colonnade is one of the earliest examples of brutalist architecture in Canada.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article The Colonnade (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

The Colonnade
Bloor Street West, Old Toronto

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N 43.668705 ° E -79.392235 °
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Bloor Street West
M5S 2W7 Old Toronto
Ontario, Canada
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6409 26 Colonnade Toronto 1964 (51189011412)
6409 26 Colonnade Toronto 1964 (51189011412)
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University Theatre (Toronto)
University Theatre (Toronto)

The University Theatre was for several decades one of the premier movie cinemas in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was located at 100 Bloor Street West along the Mink Mile, just west of Bay Street in an area that was once home to a number of cinemas, most notably the Uptown Theatre, and was a centre for the Toronto International Film Festival. At the time of its closing it was the largest movie house in Canada.The University Theatre opened in 1949, and aimed to be the premier cinema in the city. It was a single screen theatre that sat some 1300 people. The first film shown was Ingrid Bergman's Joan of Arc. The cinema would host many of the most important films, and for major productions would use reserved seating where patrons would buy specific seats well ahead of time. The cinema also helped introduce new technologies to Toronto such as CinemaScope and 70 mm film. In 1981 owner Famous Players announced plans to demolish the theatre. One screen cinemas were no longer economic in the era of the multiplex. For several years a campaign was waged by film aficionados and heritage groups to keep the cinema open. Among those who voiced their opposition to its closing was mayor Art Eggleton and local city councillor Ron Kanter. This delayed its closing, but did not prevent it. It shuttered soon after the 1986 film festival, where it hosted the gala opening screening of The Decline of the American Empire. One of the prime reasons for its demise was that the property owners thought they could get far more value from the land at one of the most exclusive sites in Toronto. However, soon after the theatre was demolished, the 1980s property boom collapsed. Despite the closure, it was agreed that the unique façade of the building would be preserved. Thus when the theatre was torn down the front wall was left standing with a scaffolding at the rear supporting it. This arrangement was meant to be a temporary measure but was left in place for well over a decade due to the early 1990s recession and property bust, and the facade was allowed to deteriorate over the years. Once redevelopment of the property began, it was deemed necessary to pull down the original facade due to its poor condition, and replace it with a reproduction (albeit a picturesque and very accurate reproduction). With the revival of the property market in the late 1990s, developments were again proposed for the site. The first plan called for a new nine screen cinema to be topped with a 26 floor condominium. However, the cinema plans were abandoned and the building was constructed with retail along Bloor Street. The rebuilt façade of the University Theatre serves as an entrance to a two-level store space, which was a Pottery Barn from 2001-2017.

Centre for Medieval Studies, Toronto
Centre for Medieval Studies, Toronto

The Centre for Medieval Studies (CMS) is a research centre at the University of Toronto in Canada dedicated to the history, thought, and artistic expression of the cultures that flourished during the Middle Ages. The centre was founded as an extra-departmental unit (EDU) of the Faculty of Arts and Science in 1964, with Bertie Wilkinson as its first director. Its foundation was announced in the journal Speculum: The intention of the Center is to make available to students various approaches to the Middle Ages in programs of studies not available in existing departments. The purpose of the Center is the training of scholars who know the Middle Ages in depth as well as in breadth. The courses of study will freely cross limits of traditional disciplines and departments, but they will be limited to the Middle Ages. By concentrating on a single period, the student will be able to acquire in some depth the basic linguistic and technical skills necessary for teaching and research in mediaeval studies; these include palaeography, diplomatics, and vernacular languages, in which the Center is strong. He will also be able to read widely in the period. His research will follow the material of his subject in order to gain a better understanding of the cross currents and variations in the cultures, interests, and beliefs of the Middle Ages. The centre had originated in a Medieval Club that met at Hart House. It was inspired by the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS), which had been founded in 1929 by Étienne Gilson. In turn, it was one of the inspirations for the University of Leeds Graduate Centre for Medieval Studies. The Centre's logo was designed by Allan Fleming, while he was head of graphic design at University of Toronto Press, from 1968–1976. The Centre is now located in the Lillian Massey Building, part of Victoria University, Toronto.