Reflections on old and new

Past and present: The back of Flavelle House is reflected in the new window tiles of the renovated law library.

A walk around the law school reveals the quick pace of envelope completion, with fins lining the entire Jackman and law library buildings.

Two cranes set up on the Queen's Park Crescent side hold workers putting the finishing touches on the fins for the spectacular and contemporary Jackman Law building. These fins will be wrapped with limestone and new windows will be placed on either side.The windows will hold peaceful and refreshing views of the park right across the street.

Peeking just above the construction hoarding is the top of the antique law school wrought iron gate, a nod to the Faculty of Law's history on the University of Toronto campus. This gate will remain and become part of the new greenery design, which will incorporate a wide variety of native trees and shrubs, in keeping with the urban landscape.

From the south end of the site, looking north on Queen's Park Crescent, you can see what an impressive anchor site the new Jackman Law Building and refurbished Bora Laskin Library make in the Avenue Road and Bloor Street quadrant. Picture the vast reflections of trees and shrubs in the expanse of windows to come.

Now heading north on Philosopher's Walk, here's the site of the future Torys Hall, a natural-light filled space for reading and quiet study, which will overlook the natural setting from the law school over to Trinity College. All the fins are set, as the windows installation continues around the buildings.

Back to Flavelle House, where we started, a close-up shot reminds us of the old and new connections.