Ever wonder what grand building stands at 214 College Street? It is the Koffler Student Services Centre. This ornate building serves the students of the University of Toronto. It stands proudly on the northwest corner of St. George and College Streets. But its story began long before it became a student hub.
Originally, this Beaux Arts building was Toronto’s Central Reference Library. Opened in 1909, it was the largest Carnegie library in Ontario. Andrew Carnegie granted 350.000 dollars for four new libraries in Toronto. The city launched a competition for Canadian Architects to submit designs for the new library. Wickson & Gregg and A.H. Chapman won the design in 1906. Their design was a Neo-classical building. The library served the city until 1977.
Imagine the countless students walking through its doors today. They seek guidance, resources and a sense of community. The University of Toronto acquired the building. It transformed it into the Koffler Student Services Centre. The building was named after Murray Koffler of Shoppers Drug Mart. He was a great supporter of the university.
Alfred H. Chapman designed the building with a grand entrance. It fronts College Street near St. George Street. Stairs rise to what was once the library’s piano nobile. A second, less prominent entrance faces the western part of College Street. The main facade has paired windows set in smooth grey stone. Above, the yellow brick upper section features two-storey windows. Corinthian columns separate them.
The original library’s reading room overlooked College Street. Students now occupy this space. An addition in 1930 by Chapman and Oxley expanded the building along St. George Street. Renovations in 1961 and 1985 modernized the space. Howard D. Chapman the son of Alfred H. Chapman headed the 1985 renovation. The building received recognition as a heritage structure in 1973. It was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act Part VI in 1975.
The Koffler Student Services Centre is more than just a building. It is home to the Student Success Centre. You can find the Centre for Learning Strategy Support here. Career Exploration & Education and Housing are here too. Reception staff help students navigate the center’s resources. They also set up appointments with educators and strategists.
Think of the building’s transformation. From a quiet library filled with books. To a bustling center supporting student life. The Koffler Student Services Centre continues to evolve. It adapts to the changing needs of the University of Toronto community.