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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

  • 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

library learning commons website

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 using Canadian Sources +.

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:
  • 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


Screen shot of a Google Book search on the Wesley Building Burke Toronto

Drawings

Canadian Buildings

Getting Started

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

library learning commons website

 

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.Canadian Content

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 Canadian Content
  • 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

  • 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.

Screen shot of a Google Book search on the Wesley Building Burke Toronto

Drawings

International Buildings

International Buildings

Getting Started

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

library learning commons website

 

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

sample search for El Croquis journal with campbell sports center and steven holl

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

sample article from El Croquis highlighting the Issue Number and page numbers and 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

  • 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.

Screen shot of a Google Book search on the Wesley Building Burke Toronto

  • 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

Architectural Atlases