Projects/

The University of Toronto’s FitzGerald Building

Exterior elevation of the Fitzgerald building, a three storey Georgian Revival building made of red brick with rooftop glass extension.

Exterior view of the Fitzgerald building, a three storey Georgian Revival building made of red brick with rooftop glass extension.

Exterior elevation of the Fitzgerald building, a three storey Georgian Revival building made of red brick with glass extension.

Glass addition of the Fitzgerald building, a three storey Georgian Revival building made of red brick with glass extension.

Interior view of the Fitzgerald building, with seating area and exposed red brick walls.

Interior area of the Fitzgerald building, a three storey Georgian Revival building made of red brick with glass extension.

Interior hallway view of the Fitzgerald building, with original Georgian interiors leading into modern extension.

The transformation of an obsolete academic building into a sustainable, energy-efficient, and accessible hub through adaptive resuse

The University of Toronto’s FitzGerald Building is a 1927 Georgian Revival-style heritage building situated on the south end of St. George Campus. Originally built as a state-of-the-art facility for the Faculty of Medicine and the newly created Connaught Laboratories, the uses have subsequently moved to other locations. ERA was engaged as the heritage architect for the comprehensive adaptive reuse and conservation project led by OMA with local architects RDHA.

The primary goal was to convert the laboratory and research facility into a flexible, modern administrative office, consolidating functions previously spread across eight buildings. This transformation prioritized the full retention of the existing building, along with the renovation of five above-grade and two below-grade levels, and exterior enhancements to improve the building’s efficiency and usability.

In service of accessibility and legibility, a new primary entrance at grade was created, facing College Street and connected internally with the original entrance facing Taddle Creek Road. The south courtyard was enclosed to create an atrium that supported circulation and internal wayfinding. These key interventions strategically improved the building’s performance and efficiency without compromising the original structure. A small rooftop extension and terrace were also added, further transforming this previously insular building into an open, collaborative workplace.

Outdated HVAC and IT systems were replaced with energy-efficient infrastructure to target LEED Silver certification, complemented by new insulated assemblies and high-performance windows, supporting the University’s sustainability goals.

This project stands out for its exemplary adaptive reuse, balancing heritage conservation with contemporary functionality while prioritizing accessibility and wayfinding in public areas. Its sensitive conservation, inclusive design, and advanced building systems establish the FitzGerald Building as a new precedent for adaptive reuse on the university campus.

Photography by Steven Evans

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