Don’t Judge a Building by its Construction

If you’ve been in the neighbourhood of Queen and University lately, you may have noticed that the whole Northeast corner of the intersection looks a little different than it used to. That’s because, like so many neighborhoods in Toronto, it’s under a few different kinds of construction. Osgoode Hall itself is undergoing repair, maintenance, and improvement, too. While the roadblocks and detours may seem impassable, you can still come visit the Great Library (and really, you should, because we miss you). 

While the breaking of ground for the long-awaited Ontario line underneath downtown Toronto is a new development, Osgoode Hall being in a state of renovation is not at all novel. Since construction began on what is now the East wing of the building in 1929, the building (or really, patchwork of smaller buildings joined together into the labyrinthine structure you see today) has been a work in progress. 

The Law Society moved into Osgoode Hall in 1832, and the West wing expansion began the very next year, a project that would not be complete until 1846. No further work on the building was done for the next decade or so, until 1857, when the central part of the building was rebuilt and the original dome topping the library removed. From roughly 1860 onward, various wings were added, modified, and refined, so that for the subsequent century plus, it would be easier to list the times that the building was not under renovation, than the times it was. The Law Society assembled this chronology of the evolution of the organization, from its beginnings as The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1797 to the regulatory body we know now, while this map shows the various wings and upgrades of Osgoode Hall, including the years they were completed: 

Today, Osgoode Hall is in the process of receiving a number of refurbishments: conservation work on the South Building Benchers Wing was recently completed, the iron fence around the courtyard is nearly refinished, and the walkway along the East side of the building has reopened since the unveiling of the new Spirit Garden in Nathan Philips square. Due to the Ontario line project, the West side courtyard entrance has diverted slightly, but both South gates are open, and despite the chaotic appearance, you can still enter the building as normal through the South- and East-facing entrances. 

All of this to say, don’t let the temporary exterior of Osgoode Hall intimidate you – the Great Library is waiting to welcome you as usual, complete with our full print and digital collections, to support your legal research and writing needs. The library is normally open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and for licensees and their agents, on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need help while here, a librarian is on site during the weekdays; a library assistant is available for general directional help on the weekend. Come visit us soon, and say hello when you do!