Egerton Ryerson, Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada, established the Toronto Normal School, the first teacher's college in the province. The school was founded in 1847. Land for the school was purchased in 1849 and the building was constructed in 1852.

The school building was designed by Cumberland and Ridout in the Classical Revival Style with Palladian elements. The building was added on to in 1882 to accomodate the Ontario School of Art and Design. A third storey was added to the south block in 1896. 

During the Second World War, the building was used as a training facility for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The Normal School was relocated in 1941. Ryerson University (then Ryerson Institute of Technology was established on the grounds around the Normal School in the mid-20th century. The majority of the school building was demolished in 1963. The only surviving remnant is the façade, which acts as an entranceway into the Ryerson University athletic facility. It stands in the middle of Ryerson's Kerr Hall quadrangle. 

• Architect - Cumberland & Ridout  <-- More buildings by this architect.