Toronto School of Art

G architects served as Prime Consultant for the full renovation and adaptive reuse of the Toronto School of Art, located within a designated heritage building in Toronto’s Queen West district. The project reimagined three floors of the existing structure into a contemporary arts education facility, balancing the preservation of historic character with the introduction of modern, flexible learning environments.

The redesigned facility provides new student studios for painting, pottery, and digital design, alongside amenity areas and staff offices that enhance daily operations. Public gallery and display spaces were integrated to showcase student work and strengthen the school’s visibility as a community-based, not-for-profit institution. Accessibility and inclusivity were central to the design, with upgrades to the main entrance, circulation routes, washrooms, and elevators to achieve full AODA compliance. A leased lower-level space was also developed to generate sustainable operating revenue, supporting the school’s long-term growth.

Delivered within the constraints of a modest budget and fixed schedule, the project required careful phasing, coordination with heritage consultants, and proactive engagement with stakeholders to ensure all program and accessibility objectives were achieved while maintaining the building’s architectural integrity.