Peter MacKinnon Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peter MacKinnon Building |
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College Building
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Collegiate Gothic |
| Location | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Coordinates | 52°7′50.41″N 106°37′57.526″W / 52.1306694°N 106.63264611°W |
| Construction started | 1910 |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Cost | $297,000 |
| Client | University of Saskatchewan |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Brown and Vallance |
| Official name: College Building National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 2001 |
| Official name: College Building, University of Saskatchewan | |
| Type: | Provincial Heritage Property |
| Designated: | November 24, 1982 |
The Peter MacKinnon Building is a very old and important building at the University of Saskatchewan (often called the U of S). The U of S is a big university in Saskatchewan, Canada. This building looks like a classic castle, built in a style called "Collegiate Gothic." It even has a special "E" shape, like the letter E!
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A Historic University Building
The Peter MacKinnon Building is a special place. It is recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is an important part of Canada's history. It is also a provincial heritage property in Saskatchewan.
What Does It Look Like?
The Peter MacKinnon Building is built in a style called Collegiate Gothic. This style makes buildings look like old castles or grand churches. You can see similar buildings at famous universities like Cambridge and Oxford in England.
The architects, Brown and Vallance, designed the building. They planned the whole U of S campus in 1909. They wanted six main buildings to look like this. These buildings were placed around a big green space. This area is now known as The Bowl.
Building with Local Stone
The University of Saskatchewan campus is located right next to the South Saskatchewan River. It is across from the city center of Saskatoon.
The first stone for the College Building was laid on July 29, 1910. This was done by Prime Minister of Canada Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He was the leader of Canada at that time.
The first buildings were made from local limestone. This stone was mined just north of the campus. It is a grey color, which became a special feature of the university. When the local stone ran out, they started using "Tyndall Stone." This stone comes from Tyndall, Manitoba.
When Was It Built?
The College Building officially opened on May 1, 1913. Even though its cornerstone was laid first, it wasn't the very first building finished. A professor's house was ready in 1911. Another house, now the Faculty Club, was finished in 1912.
In 2001, the building was named a National Historic Site of Canada.
Special Features and Uses
The outside of the building has many interesting details. You can see gargoyles, which are stone carvings of creatures. There are also oriel windows, which are windows that stick out from the wall. A gothic arch also decorates the front.
The building had to close in 1997 for big repairs. It reopened in 2005.
Originally, the College Building had rooms for students studying agriculture. They learned how to test milk and make cheese! It also had a large hall for special events. Today, the building houses two art galleries and a museum.
On September 6, 2005, the building was rededicated. This means it was celebrated again after its repairs. The Premier of Saskatchewan, Lorne Calvert, and the U of S President, Peter MacKinnon, were there. A Premier is like the leader of a province.
The building was renamed in honor of Peter MacKinnon in 2012.
