Established in 1925, the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) was the first multidisciplinary institute at the University of Toronto. Its tripartite mission consists of three fully integrated components: a graduate teach education program, the Dr. R.G.N Laidlaw Research Centre, and the JICS Laboratory School (Nursery to Grade 6) for 200 students.

The site runs from Spadina Road through to Walmer Road, between Bloor and Dupont Street.  A new 27,000 square foot, three storey addition, designed by Taylor Smyth Architects, will connect the two old houses that currently accommodate the JICS. Since the existing floors of the two houses do not align, this involved a design challenge to accommodate gentle ramps within the addition to create a single unified and barrier free facility. Renovations to the existing houses are also included in the program. The addition is being designed to LEED^® Silver standards. Construction commenced in April, 2016.

The new building will contain a multi-purpose gymnasium/auditorium with retractable seating, new classroom and amenity spaces for the Laboratory School, and study and lecture spaces for the Institute’s graduate program. Advanced teaching technology is being incorporated into all classroom spaces.

The new entrance from Spadina Road is through a landscaped forecourt. Projecting out from the second floor over the entry, the new Lab School lunch/drama room presents a dramatic façade incorporating a deep bay window that can be “inhabited” inside by the children. The new entry lobby leads to a wood beamed hallway that looks out on one side into a linear woodland garden and on the other down into the gymnasium/auditorium below. Circulation is defined by colourful floor patterns, combined with a palette of oak millwork.

View Urban Toronto’s profile on the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) and track the construction progress via Twitter using the hashtag #JICSexpansion.