Massey College is a residence for Graduate students located in the University of Toronto St. George Campus. The building site is located on the corner of Hoskin Avenue and Devonshire Place next to Trinity College and West of Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto.

Designed by Canadian Architect Ron Thom and built in 1963, the college follows the modernist style combined with the traditional Gothic architectural style. The 3-storey building is composed of a commons building joining with residence blocks to surround an interior quadrangle. 

Massey College is praised as a beautiful example of Canadian Modernism. The building is seen as one of the best works of Canadian Architect Ron Thom and is recognized for its unique hybridized Modernist style focussed on the experience of the user. The ornamented modernism of Massey College was frowned upon during the height of the Modernist movement in the 1960s, however, the architectural beauty of Thom’s masterpiece has outlived criticism and today is viewed with the respect and admiration the building deserves. Massey College is designate in the City of Toronto under a Part IV Heritage status and is also designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Defining Elements:

• Unique hybridized Modernist and Gothic architectural aesthetic;
• Modernist style planes, simple geometries and forms;
• Traditionalist material detail and Gothic inspired ornamentation;
• Traditionalist building layout enclosing the private quadrangle; and
• Creates a fluid integration of the building into the traditional University of Toronto Gothic Revival campus buildings.

Architectural focus of the experience of space

• Material, ornament, and form is used the dictate a desired architectural experience for the spaces.

Artfully crafted celebration of nature within the central quadrangle

• Trees and green space of the courtyard, growth of vines along surfaces of the building; and
• Peaceful ponds allowing the experience of water in the space.

Clock Tower

• Unique modernist style takes on the traditional bell tower creating the tower through the convergence of vertical planes.

Commons Hall

• Brilliant naturally lit main dinning hall of the commons area of the building. Beauty of the limestone window details, wooden ceilings.

• Architect - Thompson, Berwick & Pratt  <-- More buildings by this architect.
• Architect - Ronald Thom  <-- More buildings by this architect.
• Construction company - Eastern Construction Company Limited
• Owner - Massey Foundation
• Structural engineer - O. Safir & Co. Ltd.