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| Chef School - George Brown College |  |
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| 215 King Street East, Toronto, ON |
| Telephone: |
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| District: South (former City of Toronto and East York) |
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| Architect and year: |
| Wickson & Gregg, 1914 |
Subsequent architect(s)/ consultant(s):
Kearns Mancini Architects Inc., Gow Hastings Architects |
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| Open: |
Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm
Last admittance to building: 4:00 |
| Sunday: Not open |
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| From paint factory to Italian grocery, this heritage building has undergone a further restoration and renovation. It houses a publicly accessible student-run 70-seat restaurant on the ground floor, a private dining room and its back of house facilities in the basement, and three floors of classrooms on the upper levels. The approximate area of the building is 18,000 sq. ft. To bring out the building's character, six large super-caled glass windows are constructed in front of the enlarged existing brick window openings on the King Street and Frederick Street facades. These windows provide direct views into the "chef-centred" kitchen and food preparation areas of the restaurant as a testimony to George Brown College's innovative approach to culinary education. Large coloured glass canopies on the Frederick Street facade announce the restaurant's presence to the public travelling eastbound on King Street. Inside the building, many of the major steel structural components, bricks, walls and wood ceilings are left uncovered and exposed. These historical elements co-mingle with the new architectural interventions which shape the environment for the building's new user. |
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| Event information: |
Visitors will enter the building from King Street, ascend a narrow, steep set of stairs (an elevator can be accessed from same entrance for those who require it) to view state-of-the-art second floor classrooms, and then descend to the exquisitely renovated main floor restaurant and open kitchen. Infused with reminders of the building’s previous lives and recent re-purposing, this tour may give way to some surprises – perhaps even a sighting or two of distinguished guests. Rumour has it that the ghost of George Brown himself, who has made some appearances this year in honour of the College’s 40th anniversary, may materialize.
Meet the Architect – Peter Ng, Kearns Mancini Architects - at 1:00 p.m.
Hear the Penthelia Singers perform at 2:00 p.m. |
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| Other information: |
| Access is limited to parts of the building where renovations are completed. A steep, narrow stairway is the main entry point to the start of the tour. There is a small vestibule at street level with access to an elevator for those who require it. |
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| Photography permitted: | Filming permitted: |
| Interior | Yes tripod: No | Interior | Yes tripod: No |
| Exterior | Yes tripod: No | Exterior | Yes tripod: No |
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| Getting there: Click here for map. |
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| TTC (nearest station) King and Yonge Bus/streetcar: 504 King streetcar eastbound to Sherbourne and walk back 1/2 block to Frederick |
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| Visit their web site: http://www.georgebrown.ca/yeschef/215_construction.aspx |
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