Item - 2025.PB36.2

The Toronto Preservation Board recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 150 College Street (Medical Sciences Building - 1 King's College Circle) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 150 College Street (Medical Sciences Building - 1 King's College Circle) (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1 to the report (September 25, 2025) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning.

2. If there are no objections to the designation, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the Bill in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property located at 150 College Street (Medical Sciences Building - 1 King’s College Circle) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance which includes a description of heritage attributes found in Attachment 1.

The Medical Sciences Building was constructed between 1966 and 1970. The asymmetrical massing of the building complex, which generally varies between three and seven storeys, fronts onto the southeast portion of King’s College Circle, between King’s College Road and Queen’s Park Crescent West. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are found in Attachment 2.

The distinct appearance of this massive concrete complex is achieved through the highly sculptural manipulation of its precast concrete panel cladding designed by Canadian artists Robert Downing and Ted Bieler, in collaboration with the project architects (Govan, Kaminker, Langley, Keenleyside, Melick, Devonshire and Wilson with Somerville, McMurrich & Oxley, including Peter Goering) and the fabricator, Beer Precast. The subject property represents a significant example of the University of Toronto’s post-war growth and expansion, during which the institution was focused on becoming a global leader among public universities for teaching and research. The building complex is located within an area of the University of Toronto's St. George Campus that has been a site for biomedical research and teaching space since as early as 1850 and is considered a landmark on campus and within the City of Toronto.

In 2018, the Medical Sciences Building was identified as having potential for inclusion on the Heritage Register as part of the work to advance a new Secondary Plan and Urban Design Guidelines for the University of Toronto St. George Campus that were adopted by City Council in July 2022. Through its identification in that report, City Council requires a Heritage Impact Assessment to be submitted for any development applications that affect the building.

In 2020, the University of Toronto announced plans to provide additional education and research facilities for the Faculty of Medicine through a partial redevelopment of the building. ERA Architects, acting as the Heritage Consultant for the University of Toronto, submitted a Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report (March 27, 2025) for the Medical Sciences Building to Heritage Planning staff, and in support of dialogue with the City, in advance of development of the lands.

Staff have determined that the property at 150 College Street (Medical Sciences Building - 1 King’s College Circle) has cultural heritage value and meets 8 of the 9 Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.

The designation of the subject property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act will inform the understanding of the cultural heritage value of the Medical Sciences Building prior to planning for change and considering interventions to it.