Horticulture Building (Toronto) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horticulture Building |
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Horticulture Building in 2005
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| General information | |
| Type | Exhibition building Special event space |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Location | Exhibition Place |
| Address | 15 Saskatchewan Road |
| Town or city | Toronto, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°37′57″N 79°25′25″W / 43.6325°N 79.4236°W |
| Opened | 1907 |
| Owner | City of Toronto |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Steel truss |
| Floor count | 1 |
| Floor area | 32,000 square feet (3,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | George W. Gouinlock |
The Horticulture Building is a really cool old building at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Canada. It's a special place where people hold big events and conferences. When it was built in 1907, it was used to show off plants and flowers during the yearly Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). It's now considered a very important historical building.
This building, along with four others at Exhibition Place, was designed by the same architect, George W. Gouinlock. Because of its history and design, it's recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. Since 2004, a company has been using the building for special events and parties.
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Building Design
The Horticulture Building was finished in 1907. It was designed by a local architect named G. W. Gouinlock. He used a style called Beaux-Arts, which is known for being grand and fancy.
The building has one floor and is shaped like the letter "E". It has a huge glass dome right in the middle where the different parts of the building meet. This glass dome is where the main entrance is, facing south. The other parts of the building stretch out to the east and west.
A Look Back in Time
The spot where the Horticulture Building stands today used to have another famous building called the Crystal Palace. This building was inspired by the original Crystal Palace in London, England. Sadly, Toronto's Crystal Palace was destroyed by a fire on October 18, 1906. Sparks from another fire nearby caused it to burn down. The Horticulture Building was built the very next year.
During World War II
From 1942 to 1946, during World War II, the CNE grounds were used by the Canadian armed forces. The Horticulture Building became a storage place for supplies, known as the Quartermaster Stores.
A Sad Day in 1949
In September 1949, a passenger ship called the S.S. Noronic caught fire in Toronto Harbour. It was a terrible event. The Horticulture Building was quickly turned into a temporary place to care for those who were hurt or had passed away. It held up to 104 people during this difficult time.
City Hall Competition
In 1958, the building was used for an exciting design competition. All the models for Toronto's new City Hall and its surrounding square were put on display here. The public could come and see the different ideas for the city's future main building.
Modern Use
In 2004, a company called Muzik Clubs Inc. won a chance to use the building and its grounds. They signed a lease to use it until 2024. They ran a fancy nightclub called Muzik on Saturday nights and also hosted other private events.
Later, in 2013, the club suggested building swimming pools on the site. In return, they wanted to extend their lease until 2034, but this idea was not approved. Muzik Clubs Inc. is now known as Toronto Event Centre. Today, they mostly focus on hosting big corporate events and other special gatherings.
Gallery
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View of the building in 1912
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Main entrance in 1912
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The building in 1927
