Robarts Library is a
University of Toronto research library located in the Huron-Sussex neighbourhood of Toronto. The library, at a gross area of 864,000 sqft, opened in 1973 after five years of construction. The central library is 14 stories above ground, with two stories below ground. In addition, there are two smaller structures attached to the main library containing the Fisher Rare Book Library at the southeast corner and the faculty of information at the northeast corner. As of March 24, 1997 the property is listed under the heritage register, but is not designated.
Robarts Library is one of Toronto’s most prominent examples of
brutalist architecture. The use of concrete throughout the building represents the advancement in technology to allow the creation of sculptural forms, as well as the availability and affordability of the material in Ontario during the 1960s. The library was commissioned by architects Mathers & Haldenby in association with Warner, Burns, Toan & Lunde in order to meet the predicted
University growth of the postwar baby boom population. The library is located in the Huron-Sussex neighbourhood and encompasses an entire block where residences were expropriated; the surrounding area has now become a mixture of residential and university buildings.
Key Elements that define the heritage value of the building’s exterior:
- Triangular plan on a rectangular site, creating open green space and pathways;
- Brutalist architecture; a common style in the 1960s for institutional and government buildings; and
- Construction is poured in place and pre-cast concrete.
Key Elements that define the heritage value of the building’s interior:
- Interior finish of vinyl fabric on plaster and mahogany paneling in some areas contrast the concrete;
- Triangular waffle slab continuation from exterior to interior; and
- Floor plan designed in an isometric grid at 60-degree angles.
