University of Toronto and Toronto Car Hire
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto is a public university located in downtown Toronto, north of the city’s Financial District. Originally called King’s College, the institution was the first of its kind in Upper Canada for higher learning. The University of Toronto is a collegiate university, with 12 colleges in total. The university has 16 academic faculties and 10 teaching hospitals in addition to numerous research institutes.
At the top of the game
You will not be just visiting any old university when you visit with your Toronto car hire. The University of Toronto has been consistently ranked as one of Canada’s top universities. The university’s medical – doctoral program has been placed at the top by Maclean’s magazine for 12 years in a row from 1994 and 2005. In the Academic Ranking of World Universities, the University of Toronto ranks 24th, 18th in the Newsweek global university ranking, and 41st in the Times Higher Education.
Walking on campus
When you step on to the campus of the University of Toronto with your Toronto car hire you will be surrounded by several historical monuments and beautiful forest landscape. The university grounds are uniquely distinct in the landscaping compared to the urban regions that make the city’s downtown core. When you visit with your Toronto car hire, don’t forget to check out the Ontario Legislative Building located in Queens Park which is surrounded by the university grounds.
The heart of campus
The majority of the buildings on campus are a combination of Romanesque and Gothic Revival buildings dating between 1858 and 1929. These buildings are mostly centered on the eastern and middle parts of campus. The heart of campus, known as the Front Campus is in the dead centre of campus and can be identified by the main building, University College, which is enclosed by an oval lawn, also known as the King’s College Circle. Built in 187, the structure is a blend of Richardsonian Romanesque and Norman architecture. In 1968, the building was declared a National Historic Site of Canada.
Mixing the new with the old
Another sight that you should see with your Toronto car hire is the Convocation Hall. Built in 1907, the Convocation Hall can be easily identified by its large domed roof and pillars. The building not only hosts the annual convocation ceremonies, but is also used for academic and social events throughout the year. Heading over to the western section of campus with your Toronto car hire, you will be able to see the newer buildings that are mainly modernist and internationalist structures that consist of laboratories and faculty offices. Special mention goes to the massive fourteen- storey Robarts Library. Built in 1970, this complex is a perfect example of Brutalist architecture which features a raised podia and heavy use of triangular geometric designs. In 2006, the Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building was completed. The building features a high modern style of steel and glass by British architect Norman Foster.
Making way for the future
The University of Toronto was the birthplace of insulin and stem cell research as well as one the first sites to use practical electron microscope, develop multi- touch technology and the identification of Cygnus X-1 as a black hole. University of Toronto’s scientific breakthroughs and achievements have been recognized by several organization. These achievements also allow the University of Toronto to receive the most funding in research annually than any other university.
Before you go…
For more information on the University of Toronto when you visit with your Toronto Car Hire check out their official website at www.utoronto.ca