Government Building (Toronto)

Government Building, Arts, Crafts & Hobbies
View of the Government Building in 1913
General information
Type	Exhibition building
Architectural style	Beaux Arts
Location	Exhibition Place
Address	15 Saskatchewan Road
Opened	1911
Owner	City of Toronto
Technical details
Structural system	Steel Truss
Floor count	1
Design and construction
Architect	G. W. Gouinlock

The Government Building, also known as the Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Building, is a heritage exhibition building in Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Built in 1911 for the annual Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), the building is currently used as the Toronto location of the Medieval Times chain of dinner theatres.^[1]

Description

The building is a one-storey building with an "E" floorplan. At the intersection is a large dome. The architectural style is Beaux-Arts, designed by George Gouinlock.^[2]

History

The building was initially used for government displays at the CNE. The building became the host of the "Arts, Crafts & Hobbies" exhibit at the CNE. It was generally not used the rest of the year except for storage. During World War I, the building was used as barracks for Canadian soldiers. In 1959, the Government Building was used for town hall meetings on the planned Bloor-Danforth Toronto Transit Commission subway project.

In the 1990s, Toronto City Council sought to increase revenues from Exhibition Place during a time of government downloading. Medieval Times, a theatre company putting on recreations of medieval jousting, won a contract to operate the building. A support building and stable was constructed at the rear of the building.

Gallery

• 
  View of eastern facade of Government Building at CNE in 1920.
• 
  View of the exhibition grounds and government building during CNE 1930.
• 
  Eastern facade in 2005.

References