b'HISTORYIF WALLS COULD TALKBy Sarah B. HoodAt U of Ts downtown campus, the stones have witnessed more than 150 years of historyC omprisingmorethan180buildings,the University of Toronto campus in the heart of downtown Toronto is almost a museum of local architectural styles and building techniques. Its structuresincludefarmorethanclassrooms andoffices.Therearerepurposeddomesticandcommercial buildings (including a dairy), a dozen residences and numerous libraries,aswellasathleticfacilities,theatres,concerthalls, exhibit galleries, an astronomical observatory and even a note-worthy church.With many buildings dating to the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, the campus is especially notable for its impressive stonestructures.Architectsandbuildingpatronsofthe period felt that an institution of such importance and dignity should resemble the great medieval buildings of Europe. They favoured Gothic and Romanesque Revival styles, which offerFront Wing of Trinity Collegegreat scope for inventive stonework. One of the Universitys most striking buildings is even said to be haunted by the ghost of a stoneworker who perished there over 150 years ago. While some building materials used on the U of T campus were sourced from the U.S., many of the most significant buildings used thedurablegreyWhirlpoolandredMedinaquartzsandstone quarried along the Niagara Escarpment between Hamilton and Orangeville. Rail service, beginning in 1879, allowed for efficient shipping of the stone to Toronto. Here we provide an overview of some of the Universitys more memorable structures.TRINITY COLLEGESimply driving past the campus, one cant miss Trinity College on Hoskin Avenue, which was built in stages between 1925 and 1963 by several different architectural firms working in a Tudor Revival style. The entrance to the front wing (the earliest section) features ornamental stone faces. The outstanding section is the 1955 Gothic-style chapel, designed by the British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (designer of Britains iconic red telephone boxes). The exterior is sandstone, and the interior combines Indiana limestone support with stuccowork, while the floor is Roman travertine.WINTER 2022AVENUES 29'