TOBuilt

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TOBuilt's logo

TOBuilt is a digital, crowd-sourced database of buildings and structures in Toronto, Ontario, Canada maintained by the Toronto branch of the . The database's initial catalogue was created by Robert Krawczyk in 2006. In 2015, ACO Toronto assumed the operation of TOBuilt and relaunched it on a new platform. As of June 2021, TOBuilt maintains entries for over 12,500 buildings located across the city of Toronto.[1]

Database content[]

TOBuilt's central mandate is to document architecture and built heritage throughout Toronto's six boroughs: Old Toronto, North York, East York, York, Etobicoke, and Scarborough. Individual entries contain present and historical photographs of the building in question as well as information about its date of construction, architect, cultural history, architectural style, level of heritage designation, and location. Historical architectural styles that are highly represented in the database include Gothic Revival, Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne Revival, Edwardian, and Arts and Crafts. It also documents the use of early 19th-century English architectural styles in the city, including surviving Georgian, Regency, and Neoclassical buildings, as well as those representing modern styles such as Brutalism.[2]

TOBuilt has conducted several extensive surveys of architectural typologies in Toronto, including one of missing middle architecture.[3] It also maintains an updated list of "at-risk" buildings in the city that are currently threatened by demolition, redevelopment, neglect, or alteration.[4]

Architectural advocacy[]

In February 2021, the owner of a 3-storey Second Empire building designed by Scottish architect David Brash Dick in 1878 at 127 Strachan Avenue in Toronto's West End Niagara neighbourhood withdrew a demolition application after advocacy efforts led by TOBuilt.[5][6][7] The project centred around a TOBuilt Instagram campaign and an online petition garnering nearly 5,000 signatures.

References[]

  1. ^ "About TOBuilt". acotoronto.ca. Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Toronto. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  2. ^ "TOBuilt search page". acotoronto.ca. Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Toronto. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. ^ "TOBuilt Missing Middle catalogue". acotoronto.ca. Architectural Conservancy of Ontario Toronto. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Historic Toronto hotel is at risk of being demolished". blogto.com. BlogTO. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  5. ^ "127 Strachan Avenue". acotoronto.ca. TOBuilt. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. ^ "TOBuilt Save 127 Strachan Avenue Instagram campaign". instagram.com. TOBuilt. Retrieved 29 June 2021.[self-published]
  7. ^ "Withdrawal of Residential Demolition Application - 127 Strachan Avenue". app.toronto.ca. City of Toronto. Retrieved 29 June 2021.

External links[]

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