Massey College
Massey College, Toronto (designed by R.J. THOM, completed in 1963). At the height of international-style architecture in Canada, the design of Massey College seemed to break ranks, to look backwards or sideways, rather than forward. Considered 2 decades later, it appears ahead of its time, a remarkable anticipation of new directions in architecture. It is, as well, simply among the best buildings in Canada. Thom's design was the result of a 2-stage, limited competition held in 1960 by the Massey Foundation. In response to Vincent MASSEY's desire for a building that evoked his Oxford experience, Thom combined informality of layout and richness of detail with all-embracing order, a limited palette of materials dominated by brick.