Item - 2026.PB47.3

The Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 150 College Street (Simcoe Hall - 27 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 (Simcoe Hall - 27 King's College Circle) (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1 to the report (July 8, 2026) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning.

2. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 150 College Street (Convocation Hall - 31 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 (Convocation Hall - 31 King's College Circle) (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 2 to the report (July 8, 2026) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning.

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

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the properties located at 150 College Street (Simcoe Hall - 27 King’s College Circle and Convocation Hall - 31 King's College Circle) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for their cultural heritage value according to the Statements of Significance which include a description of heritage attributes found in Attachments 1 and 2.

For much of the city's history, the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus has existed as a distinct area at the centre of the city. It is part of an institutional urban landscape that encompasses the University, its federated universities and colleges, and Ontario’s seat of government, among other institutions. Its early establishment and patterns of land ownership have shaped the distinctive urban structure of the richly layered campus, which includes some of Toronto’s most prominent buildings and complexes and significant open spaces.

The subject properties, which comprise the distinctive rotunda form of Convocation Hall and the adjoining Simcoe Hall, are located at the southwest corner of King’s College Circle, a defining open space around which other landmark buildings on the campus are constructed and many of which are recognized on the City's Heritage Register.

Together, Simcoe Hall and Convocation Hall, which function as the University's main administrative centre and primary public gathering and ceremonial space respectively, also form a symbolic processional route for administrators and graduating students during graduation events. These properties are part of a collection of buildings designed by prominent Toronto architects Darling & Pearson that brought a cohesive Edwardian design sensibility to the formerly picturesque setting of the Front Campus. A location map and current photographs of Simcoe Hall and Convocation Hall are found in Attachment 3.

Simcoe Hall and Convocation Hall have been listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register since 1973.

In 2018, the subject properties were identified as landmark properties through 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.

As stewards of some of the city's most iconic architecture, the University of Toronto owns several landmark properties and has worked collaboratively with Heritage Planning staff to advance landmark listed properties to Part IV designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. Designation will inform the understanding of a property's cultural heritage value prior to planning for any subsequent change and considering interventions.

To advance this work, the University of Toronto engaged ERA Architects (the "Consultant") to research and evaluate their landmark listed properties. In the Consultant's opinion, the physically adjoined and programmatically related buildings known as Simcoe Hall and Convocation Hall exceed the provincial criteria for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The Consultant's research on the subject properties is contained in Attachments 4 and 5 of this report.

The research, analysis, and evaluation contained within Attachments 4 and 5 reflects the Consultant's professional expertise and opinions, which staff have reviewed and independently concur. In collaboration with the Consultant, a Statement of Significance for each building was finalized. Both Heritage Planning and the Consultant are of the opinion that the properties at 27 and 31 King's College Circle known as Simcoe Hall and Convocation Hall, respectively, have cultural heritage value and meet 7 of the 9 Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets 2 or more of the 9 criteria.

There are no financial implications resulting from the recommendations included in this report in the current budget year or in future years.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.