Make an appointment with Andrea Hall to help you get started on your research.

Toronto Buildings

Getting Started

Start with the TOBuilt website. Note the details about your building. Click the Sources link for articles and books about your building.
The Architectural Index for Ontario is a good source for basic information on buildings in Toronto. It provides details, such as year built, architect, and building name(s). It also provides a list of journal articles and books about your building.

Articles and Books

The library has newspapers, magazines, and journals with information on Toronto buildings. You can also search our book collection. While the Library Learning Commons is currently closed, we do have a number of e-books that might have information on your building.

Articles: Try searching on all aspects of the building, including:

The current and former name(s) of the building
The architect or firm that designed the building
The architect or firm that did restoration work on the building

Go to the Library Learning Commons website and enter your search.

This will allow you to simultaneously search a number of databases including Art and Architecture Complete and CPI.Q.

Be sure to search our databases that have a Canadian focus.

CBCA Complete (Canadian Business and Current Affairs)
- It contains Canadian history and architecture journals.
Canadian Major Dailies
- Newspapers from across Canada
TIP: You can search these databases simultaneously by choosing the Database tab at the top of the screen and selecting both databases.

Books and Videos: Use the library's main search box (above) but keep your search more general. Try:

architect's name (e.g. Peter Dickinson)
building name (e.g. Queen Elizabeth Theatre)
type of architecture (e.g.Toronto and high-rise and architecture)
Toronto and architecture
Limit your search to e-books

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

For Toronto buildings search:
- TOBuilt (click the sources button at the bottom of the page)
- The Architectural Index for Ontario (Archidont) from the Toronto Public Library for references to your building in books and journals
  - Journal /Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is available full-text from Dalhousie
Search the Toronto Heritage Register if the building is designated.
Search the architect's/firm's website or does the building have a website. Look for awards or references to articles and books.
Search the Internet Archive for books, journal articles and videos on your building or architect. You must create a free account to borrow e-books at Sign up for an account.
All George Brown College students are eligible to apply for a Toronto Public Library Card. This allows you to use the TPL databases and to check out books. The main Reference Library at Yonge and Bloor has an excellent architecture collection. They have a number of print journals that pre-date our print collection and a large architecture book collection. These online databases may have articles on your building
- JSTOR
- Art Full Text

Use Google Books to search through the full-text of books for references to your building. The book may not be available for viewing so check the Search Everything to see if we hold the e-book. You can also search the Internet Archives for an e-book copy. Try the Toronto Public Library for a print copy.

Drawings

Journal articles and books often have drawings of the buildings.
Toronto Archives (temporarily closed due to Covid-19 but look for digitized copies of drawings)
Archives of Ontario (temporarily closed due to Covid-19 but look for digitized copies of drawings)
Toronto Public Library (limit to image files)
Canadian Architectural Archives (University of Calgary)
Canadian Architecture Collection (McGill)
The Great Buildings Collection has basic information but also a good bibliography on featured buildings.
ArchDaily features project files on buildings
Architect Magazine Project Gallery
Dezeen
Architectural Record: Record Houses Record Houses from 2006 to present. Includes index to Record Houses from 2001-2005.
Building website
National archives and/or national architectural associations

Canadian Buildings

Getting Started

The Great Buildings Collection, Dezeen and ArchDaily are good resources for the basics on international buildings.

Key Buildings from Prehistory to the Present by Andrew Ballantyne
ISBN: 9781856698375
Publication Date: 2012-10-24
The latest in this successful series, this book features around 150 of the most important buildings in the history of world architecture--from the pyramids and the Parthenon to some of the most significant works by recent architects. The quality and number of the line drawings, together with the authoritative text by a renowned architectural historian, allow all the buildings to be understood in detail and make this an invaluable resource for students.
Art and Architecture in Canada by Loren R. Lerner; Mary F. Williamson
ISBN: 9781442671010
Publication Date: 2016-01-29
Identifies and summarizes thousands of books, article, exhibition catalogues, government publications, and theses published in many countries and in several languages from the early nineteenth century to 1981. (You can search within the e-book for references to your building)

Articles and Books

The library has newspapers, magazines, and journals with information on Canadian and international buildings. You can also search our book collection. While the Library Learning Commons is currently closed, we do have a number of e-books that might have information on your building.

Articles: Try searching on all aspects of the building, including:

The current and former name(s) of the building
The architect or firm that designed the building
The architect or firm that did restoration work on the building

Go to the Library Learning Commons website and enter your search.

This will allow you to simultaneously search a number of databases including Art and Architecture Complete and CPI.Q.

Be sure to search our databases that have a Canadian focus for Canadian buildings.

CBCA Complete (Canadian Business and Current Affairs)
- It contains Canadian history and architecture journals.
Canadian Major Dailies
- Newspapers from across Canada
TIP: You can search these databases simultaneously by choosing the Database tab at the top of the screen and selecting both databases.

Books and Videos: Use the library's main search box but keep your search more general. Try:

architect's name (e.g. Peter Dickinson)
building name (e.g. Queen Elizabeth Theatre)
type of architecture (e.g.Toronto and high-rise and architecture)
Toronto and architecture
Limit your search to e-books or videos

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Search the architect's/firm's website or does the building have a website. Look for awards or references to articles and books.
Journal /Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is available full-text from Dalhousie
Search the Internet Archive for books, journal articles and videos on your building or architect. You must create a free account to borrow e-books at Sign up for an account.
All George Brown College students are eligible to apply for a Toronto Public Library Card. This allows you to use the TPL databases and to check out books. The main Reference Library at Yonge and Bloor has an excellent architecture collection. They have a number of print journals that pre-date our print collection and a large architecture book collection. These online databases may have articles on your building
- JSTOR
- Art Full Text
Search the RIBA catalogue for references to your building that may not come up in your initial search. Some of these resources may be available in our collection. Most of these books and journals can be found at the Toronto Public Library.

Use Google Books to search through the full-text of books for references to your building. The book may not be available for viewing so check the Search Everything to see if we hold the e-book. You can also search the Internet Archives for an e-book copy. Try the Toronto Public Library for a print copy.

Drawings

Journal articles and books often have drawings of the buildings.
Archives of Ontario (temporarily closed due to Covid-19 but look for digitized copies of drawings)
Toronto Public Library (limit to image files)
Canadian Architectural Archives (University of Calgary)
Canadian Architecture Collection (McGill)
The Great Buildings Collection has basic information but also a good bibliography on featured buildings.
ArchDaily features project files on buildings
Architect Magazine Project Gallery
Dezeen
Architectural Record: Record Houses Record Houses from 2006 to present. Includes index to Record Houses from 2001-2005.
Building website
National archives and/or national architectural associations

International Buildings

Getting Started

The Great Buildings Collection, Dezeen and ArchDaily are good resources for the basics on international buildings.

Key Buildings from Prehistory to the Present by Andrew Ballantyne
ISBN: 9781856698375
Publication Date: 2012-10-24
The latest in this successful series, this book features around 150 of the most important buildings in the history of world architecture--from the pyramids and the Parthenon to some of the most significant works by recent architects. The quality and number of the line drawings, together with the authoritative text by a renowned architectural historian, allow all the buildings to be understood in detail and make this an invaluable resource for students.
Another 100 of the World's Best Houses by Robyn Beaver
ISBN: 9781864705348
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
100 of the World's Best Houses by Catherine Slessor (Introduction by) 'For 344 pages of elegant, surprising or beautiful houses from Mount Fuji to Middlesex, look no further than 100 of the World's Best Houses - a title to send architects and interior designers into a state of high excitement.' The Telegraph An internati
Call Number: e-boook
ISBN: 9781864704358
Publication Date: 2011-05-16

Articles and Books

Articles: Try searching on all aspects of the building, including:

The current and former name(s) of the building
The architect or firm that designed the building
The architect or firm that did restoration work on the building

Go to the Library Learning Commons website and enter your search.

This will allow you to simultaneously search a number of databases including Art and Architecture Complete and CPI.Q.

El Croquis journal collection

Search the El Croquis Journal collection for a building or an architect/practice. Each issue is dedicated to an architect or practice. The journal provides biographical information on the architect or practice, interviews with the architect(s), and profiles of major projects. You can browse the collection or search for a specific building within the collection in the main database (see sample search below).

Search El Croquis in the source field.
Include the building name and the architect's name

Note the Issue number and page numbers before going to the publisher's site via the Get It (Full Text Finder) link.

Books and Videos: Use the library's main search box but keep your search more general. Try:

architect's name (e.g. Mies van der Rohe)
building name (e.g. Seagram Building)
type of architecture (e.g. Bauhaus or mid-century modern architecture)
New York and architecture
Limit your search to e-books or videos

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Search the architect's/firm's website or does the building have a website. Look for awards or references to articles and books.
Search the Internet Archive for books, journal articles and videos on your building or architect. You must create a free account to borrow e-books at Sign up for an account.
All George Brown College students are eligible to apply for a Toronto Public Library Card. This allows you to use the TPL databases and to check out books. The main Reference Library at Yonge and Bloor has an excellent architecture collection. They have a number of print journals that pre-date our print collection and a large architecture book collection. These online databases may have articles on your building
- JSTOR
- Art Full Text
Search the RIBA catalogue for references to your building that may not come up in your initial search. Some of these resources may be available in our collection. Most of these books and journals can be found at the Toronto Public Library.

Use Google Books to search through the full-text of books for references to your building. The book may not be available for viewing so check the Search Everything to see if we hold the e-book. You can also search the Internet Archives for an e-book copy.

Drawings

Journal articles and books often have drawings of the buildings.
Archives of Ontario (temporarily closed due to Covid-19 but look for digitized copies of drawings)
Toronto Public Library (limit to image files)
Canadian Architectural Archives (University of Calgary)
Canadian Architecture Collection (McGill)
The Great Buildings Collection has basic information but also a good bibliography on featured buildings.
ArchDaily features project files on buildings
Architect Magazine Project Gallery
Dezeen
Architectural Record: Record Houses Record Houses from 2006 to present. Includes index to Record Houses from 2001-2005.
Building website
National archives and/or national architectural associations

ARCH 1060 - Design Fundamentals - Group Research Project

Librarian - CCET

Library Virtual Study Hall

Make an appointment with Andrea Hall to help you get started on your research.

Toronto Buildings

Getting Started

Articles and Books

Books and Videos: Use the library's main search box (above) but keep your search more general. Try:

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Drawings

Journal articles and books often have drawings of the buildings.

Canadian Buildings

Getting Started

Articles and Books

Be sure to search our databases that have a Canadian focus for Canadian buildings.

Books and Videos: Use the library's main search box but keep your search more general. Try:

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Search the RIBA catalogue for references to your building that may not come up in your initial search. Some of these resources may be available in our collection. Most of these books and journals can be found at the Toronto Public Library.

Drawings

International Buildings

International Buildings

Getting Started

Articles and Books

El Croquis journal collection

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Search the RIBA catalogue for references to your building that may not come up in your initial search. Some of these resources may be available in our collection. Most of these books and journals can be found at the Toronto Public Library.

Use Google Books to search through the full-text of books for references to your building. The book may not be available for viewing so check the Search Everything to see if we hold the e-book. You can also search the Internet Archives for an e-book copy.

Drawings

ARCH 1060 - Design Fundamentals - Group Research Project

Make an appointment with Andrea Hall to help you get started on your research.

Toronto Buildings

Getting Started

Articles and Books

Books and Videos: Use the library's main search box (above) but keep your search more general. Try:

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Drawings

Journal articles and books often have drawings of the buildings.

Canadian Buildings

Getting Started

Articles and Books

Be sure to search our databases that have a Canadian focus for Canadian buildings.

Books and Videos: Use the library's main search box but keep your search more general. Try:

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Search the RIBA catalogue for references to your building that may not come up in your initial search. Some of these resources may be available in our collection. Most of these books and journals can be found at the Toronto Public Library.

Drawings

International Buildings

International Buildings

Getting Started

Articles and Books

El Croquis journal collection

Beyond Our Collection - E-books and Journals

Search the RIBA catalogue for references to your building that may not come up in your initial search. Some of these resources may be available in our collection. Most of these books and journals can be found at the Toronto Public Library.

Use Google Books to search through the full-text of books for references to your building. The book may not be available for viewing so check the S﻿earch Everything to see if we hold the e-book. You can also search the Internet Archives for an e-book copy.

Drawings

Use Google Books to search through the full-text of books for references to your building. The book may not be available for viewing so check the Search Everything to see if we hold the e-book. You can also search the Internet Archives for an e-book copy.