Alison Brooks Architects is delighted to announce that the University of Toronto has selected our practice, in collaboration with Executive Architects Adamson Associates, to revitalise the Claude T. Bissell Building.
The building houses the University’s Faculty of Information, a world-leading centre of excellence for research and education in information studies. The Faculty’s mission is to leverage technology for human good, making knowledge, information platforms, and systems equitable and accessible to all. The Bissell Building is one of three heritage buildings that form the renowned John P. Robarts Research Library complex, one of Toronto’s brutalist masterpieces. Completed in 1973, the 7,000-square-metre Bissell Building is remarkably robust but fortress-like and cellular in its organisation.
The project calls for a comprehensive reimagining of the Bissell Building’s social, teaching, and research spaces to fundamentally modernise the identity of the Faculty of Information and create a new front door to the St. George Campus. The project will create newly accessible, inclusive spaces such as research and design labs, classrooms, and maker spaces to support the Faculty’s combined model of experiential, experimental, and empirical learning.
Citations
Alison Brooks, Founder of Alison Brooks Architects and Creative Director:
“This revitalisation project represents a historic opportunity to work with a brilliant client to transform one of the University’s most memorable Brutalist icons into a place that fosters open collaboration, active learning and impactful research. We’re inspired by the Bissell Building’s considerable artistic legacy which we will enhance and honour with our work. We look forward to collaborating with the University, the Faculty and our wider consultant team to sensitively transform this significant piece of Toronto’s built history, to support the University’s Climate Positive Campus Plan and secure its architectural legacy for future generations.”
Javed Mostafa, Dean, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto:
“As a fan of Brutalist architecture – be it the Bissell Building, where I now work, or the National Parliament Building in Bangladesh, the country where I was born – I am thrilled to have Alison Brooks in charge of this renovation. Under their architectural stewardship, I expect the new Bissell Building to emerge an even more welcoming human and social space that will foster engagement and create further connections to the city and our communities.”
Scott Mabury, Vice-president, operations & real estate partnerships and vice-provost, academic operations, University of Toronto:
“This project represents an important and enduring milestone of transformation for both the Faculty of Information as well as the north-east wing of the historic Robarts Library complex at the core of our St. George Campus. We are excited to welcome some fresh thinking from our architect team, led by Alison Brooks, to bring this important renewal project to life. “
Team:
Architect: Alison Brooks Architects
Design Architect: Alison Brooks Architects
Executive Architect: Adamson Associates
Indigenous Architect: David T Fortin Architects
Client: University of Toronto
Sustainability, Electrical: ARUP
Heritage Architect: ERA Architect
Landscape Architect: The Planning Partnership
Acoustics: HGC Engineering
Wayfinding: ENTRO Communications
Vertical Transportation: Soberman Engineering
Code & Accessibility: LMDG Consultants
Hardware: Upper Canada
Photo StGeorgeCampus: Ken Jones, Copyright: University of Toronto
Photo Bissell Building: Copyright: Alison Brooks Architects
