Walking Tour: New Meets Old

With over 150 years of architectural history and home to over 80 heritage designated buildings, the University of Toronto’s St. George campus is without a doubt one of the most unique and remarkable architectural collections in Canada. This historical campus though is far from a museum. With just over 90,000 students, as well as thousands of faculty and staff, the University is a city that is continuously growing and evolving – requiring new buildings, retrofits and renovations to keep up with its changing population.

Join us on this walk as we explore how architects have worked around, added to, repaired, adapted and sometimes even relocated some of the university’s earliest structures. Learn about the unique challenges and opportunities that arise when dealing with heritage structures. Along the way we will explore a wide range of buildings and landscapes – from High Victorian masterpieces with gleaming glass additions, to Brutalist behemoths and modernist pioneers – many which challenge preconceptions of what heritage is and raise the question of how can we preserve our past while meeting the needs of the future.

Highlights in this tour include the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Conservatory of Music, Robarts Library and One Spadina Crescent.

Accessibility

We strive to host inclusive, accessible tours that enable all attendees to fully engage with the experience. Our Walking Tours take place on mostly flat terrain, such as city sidewalks and paths. To notify us of any accommodations you may need, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca.

Logistics

All TSA Walking Tours require prior registration. You can register online anytime prior to the start of the tour and walk-ins will be accommodated, unless we have reached capacity. Exact change is required for any tickets purchased at the tour ($15, HST included). Please note the TSA Membership discount is only available for tickets purchased online.

All tours are 1.5-2 hours long, and include mostly exterior stops. Your tour guide will be equipped with a microphone and speaker system to ensure you’re able to hear the tour clearly.

Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the tour begins for your tour guide to check you in. We encourage you to go paperless — we can use either your digital ticket or your name for check-in.

Our tours take place rain or shine, so please double check the weather on the day of your tour and dress appropriately. Should inclement weather require tour cancellation, we will reach out in advance of the tour to the email/phone number you shared when registering.

Thank You!

TSA Walking Tours are made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Association of Architects and the passion and dedication of our volunteer Tour Guides.