Have you ever navigated a maze of lockers and hallways? That’s Kerr Hall East. We are standing in front of Kerr Hall East now. It is part of a series of four buildings. These buildings form a square around Ryerson Community Park. This park is also known as the Quad. Kerr Hall East sits on the former site of the Toronto Normal School.
The Toronto Normal School was partially demolished in the late 1950s. This demolition paved the way for Kerr Hall’s construction. Kerr Hall East is located at 340 Church Street and 60 Gould Street. The entire Kerr Hall complex includes Kerr Hall West, Kerr Hall North, and Kerr Hall South.
Construction of Kerr Hall took place from the early 1960s to 1969. Architect Burwell R. Coon designed the building. Before 1963, the Toronto Normal School still stood in the middle of where Kerr Hall is now.
Kerr Hall is named after Howard Hillen Kerr. He was Ryerson’s first principal. Kerr Hall North houses The Creative School Chrysalis. This was formerly the Ryerson Theatre. The auditorium seats 1,237 people. It hosts live productions, lectures, and film shoots. Even fashion shows and convocations take place here.
The Chrysalis has hosted some famous events. Film premieres like “The Princess Bride” in 1987 happened here. Borat also had a premiere here in 2006. The 1976 Juno Awards were held here. The 28th Canadian Film Awards also took place in the Chrysalis.
Not all four Kerr Hall buildings connect on every floor. You cannot pass through the Theatre. You also cannot go through the ground floor of Kerr Hall South. Kerr Hall is indeed a very complex building.
Part of Ryerson’s Campus Master Plan considered demolishing Kerr Hall. The plan was to replace it with a new building in the future. The demolition of Kerr Hall might be part of a campus transformation. The goal was to enhance facilities on campus. The Kerr Hall Quad could be transformed into a community park. This park would provide green space for the university.
Kerr Hall was listed as an “opportunity site.” This means it has potential for more efficient land use. However, this listing does not guarantee demolition. Each site requires independent evaluation.
Before Kerr Hall, the Normal School stood here. In 1948, Howard Kerr founded Ryerson Institute of Technology. The Normal School building was renamed Ryerson Hall. As the institute grew, Ryerson Hall was replaced with Kerr Hall in 1963.
The front door and facade of Ryerson Hall were preserved. These can be found as the entrance to the Recreation and Athletics Centre. The City of Toronto considers Kerr Hall a heritage-listed property.
Navigating Kerr Hall can be an adventure. Its confusing corridors link the four buildings. Kerr Hall’s construction occurred in stages. This allowed students to continue using sections of Ryerson Hall during the process. So, as you explore Kerr Hall East, remember its rich history. It is a place of transformation and constant change.