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It was evident to the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering for many years that a new building would be required to accommodate the growing number of students and Faculty members. As early as 1910, the Dean had appealed for new space and the replacement of the old Engineering Building ("[[The Little Red Skulehouse]]" as it came to be known). However, construction of a new dedicated building for engineering would be stalled by surrounding developments as well as the two World Wars. | It was evident to the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering for many years that a new building would be required to accommodate the growing number of students and Faculty members. As early as 1910, the Dean had appealed for new space and the replacement of the old Engineering Building ("[[The Little Red Skulehouse]]" as it came to be known). However, construction of a new dedicated building for engineering would be stalled by surrounding developments as well as the two World Wars. | ||
It was not until the late 1950s that a new building was approved by the Board of Governors, on a budget of about $7 million. In the meantime, the Department of Civil Engineering had grown too large for the original Engineering Building, and was forced to share space with the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Electrical Building (now the [[Rosebrugh Building]]), which has been described as "prison-like" by Faculty of the time. At this time, several developments were expected to change the face of the Skule™ campus, including the planned demolition of the old "[[Skulehouse]]" within the decade, and the construction of a new physics building which would free up the [[Sandford Fleming Building]] (then known as the old Physics Building) for engineering. Indeed, the new Galbraith building was to be connected to the western end of the old Physics Building and function as one interconnected structure. | It was not until the late 1950s that a new building was approved by the Board of Governors, on a budget of about $7 million.<ref>University of Toronto Engineering Society, Skule Handbook, 1959-1960</ref> In the meantime, the Department of Civil Engineering had grown too large for the original Engineering Building, and was forced to share space with the Department of Electrical Engineering in the Electrical Building (now the [[Rosebrugh Building]]), which has been described as "prison-like" by Faculty of the time. At this time, several developments were expected to change the face of the Skule™ campus, including the planned demolition of the old "[[Skulehouse]]" within the decade, and the construction of a new physics building which would free up the [[Sandford Fleming Building]] (then known as the old Physics Building) for engineering. Indeed, the new Galbraith building was to be connected to the western end of the old Physics Building and function as one interconnected structure. | ||
To facilitate the construction of the Galbraith Building, the old Forestry Building (now known as the Physical Geography Building) was physically moved 200 feet north from its location just north of the Wallberg Building to its current location just west of Convocation Hall. It was lifted from its foundations by a series of jacks, and moved with steel rollers on a set of rails by manual labour at a rate of several inches per day. | To facilitate the construction of the Galbraith Building, the old Forestry Building (now known as the Physical Geography Building) was physically moved 200 feet north from its location just north of the Wallberg Building to its current location just west of Convocation Hall. It was lifted from its foundations by a series of jacks, and moved with steel rollers on a set of rails by manual labour at a rate of several inches per day. | ||
[[File:Galbraith Building 1961-03.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Galbraith Building in March 1961, shortly after the official opening ceremonies. It had been in use for several months prior to this point.]] | |||
Excavation began in the summer of 1959 for the Galbraith Building, which was designed by the architectural firm Page and Steele, and constructed by the contractors The Foundation Company. | Excavation began in the summer of 1959 for the Galbraith Building, which was designed by the architectural firm Page and Steele, and constructed by the contractors The Foundation Company. | ||
The cornerstone was laid on May 24, 1960 - and it is said that the original barrel of the [[Skule Cannon]] Mark II was laid into the cornerstone of the Galbraith Building. | The cornerstone was laid on May 24, 1960<ref name="White">White, Richard. ''The Skule Story''. [http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/ University of Toronto Press], 2000.</ref> - and it is said that the original barrel of the [[Skule Cannon]] Mark II was laid into the cornerstone of the Galbraith Building. | ||
The building was ready for limited occupancy by the opening term in September of 1960, despite a 5-month long [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_strike_of_1959 steelworker strike] in the U.S. which affected construction across the continent. | The building was ready for limited occupancy by the opening term in September of 1960, despite a 5-month long [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_strike_of_1959 steelworker strike] in the U.S. which affected construction across the continent. | ||
The Galbraith Building was officially opened on the seventh of March 1961 by the Honourable J. Keiller Mackay, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The building was created to provide for the teaching of Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Aeronautical Engineering. It also contains the Dean's Office, the Faculty Office, the Council Room, and Common Rooms for the staff and students. | The Galbraith Building was officially opened on the seventh of March 1961 by the Honourable J. Keiller Mackay, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The building was created to provide for the teaching of Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Aeronautical Engineering. It also contains the Dean's Office, the Faculty Office, the Council Room, and Common Rooms for the staff and students. | ||
To mark the occasion of the opening of the Building, a special convocation was held on the preceding evening, at which the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on William Percy Dobson, Henri Gaudefroy, Paul Gray Hoffman, John Hamilton Parkin and John Bertram Stirling. Dr. Hoffman gave the address to Convocation. As part of the opening day ceremonies, three scientific lectures were given by distinguished engineers. | To mark the occasion of the opening of the Building, a special convocation was held on the preceding evening, at which the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on William Percy Dobson, Henri Gaudefroy, Paul Gray Hoffman, John Hamilton Parkin and John Bertram Stirling. Dr. Hoffman gave the address to Convocation. As part of the opening day ceremonies, three scientific lectures were given by distinguished engineers.<ref name="Opening">University of Toronto. ''Galbraith Building: Opening Ceremonies''. [http://www.utpress.utoronto.ca/ University of Toronto Press], 1961. </ref> | ||
=== Dean McLaughlin's Speech at the Opening Ceremonies === | === Dean McLaughlin's Speech at the Opening Ceremonies === | ||
Dean [[R.R. McLaughlin]]'s speech of March 1961 at the opening ceremonies provides insight into the plans and hopes of the Faculty at that time: | Dean [[R.R. McLaughlin]]'s speech of March 1961 at the opening ceremonies provides insight into the plans and hopes of the Faculty at that time:<ref name="Opening"/> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
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joining us in our house-warming. | joining us in our house-warming. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
[[Image:Galbraith_building_1962.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Galbraith Building in 1962]] | |||
==Structure and Architecture== | ==Structure and Architecture== | ||
The Galbraith Building, much like many buildings at the University constructed in the mid-twentieth century, is said to be designed in the spare [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Style_(architecture) International Style] with its clean geometric lines and exposed concrete structural elements. It is a kind of "square donut" built around a courtyard (known to most students as the "GB Quad"). The main architectural features consist of regular concrete columns and beams forming bays filled by dark and light-brown brick. On the north side, the columns are clad with limestone. | The Galbraith Building, much like many buildings at the University constructed in the mid-twentieth century, is said to be designed in the spare [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Style_(architecture) International Style] with its clean geometric lines and exposed concrete structural elements. It is a kind of "square donut" built around a courtyard (known to most students as the "GB Quad"). The main architectural features consist of regular concrete columns and beams forming bays filled by dark and light-brown brick. On the north side, the columns are clad with limestone.<ref>L.W. Richards, ''The Campus Guide: University of Toronto'' (Princeton Architectural Press, 2009).</ref> | ||
===Becca's H=== | ===Becca's H=== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | |||
[[Category:Buildings]] | [[Category:Buildings]] | ||