May 23 & 24, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Ever wondered what's inside 1 Spadina Crescent? Curious about the history of the revitalized neo-Gothic building at its centre? 

Whether you have always wanted to wander the halls or simply haven’t visited the Daniels Building in a while, there is something for everyone to discover during Doors Open Toronto 2026! 

Family-friendly

The Daniels Building welcomes visitors for public tours, May 23 & 24 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

The Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) will host a children's activity in our Commons (main floor atrium) on both days. Participants will be encouraged to think about buildings, landscapes and urban infrastructures through Building a Paper City.

Sunday lecture: What is Toronto's architectural identity?

TSA will also host a special discussion on the topic of Toronto's architectural identity, Sunday, May 24 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Daniels Building Main Hall. All welcome!

Student work showcase

While you're here, our End of Year Show 2025/26 will feature a wide range of projects produced in our architecture, landscape architecture, forestry, urban design and visual studies programs. The drawings, graphics, models and videos displayed throughout the Daniels Building demonstrate an exuberance for innovative digital and physical approaches to the objects and environments we imagine, create and nurture.

History 

Originally built as a prospect to the lake, the historic structure at 1 Spadina Crescent was the first site of Knox College in 1875, a military hospital during the First World War and the place where Connaught Laboratories manufactured insulin in the 1940s. Today, it’s home to the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto.

A striking contemporary addition, designed by NADAAA and completed in 2018, combines the Knox College structure with cutting-edge facilities, from versatile new studios to a digital fabrication lab.

Admission to the Daniels Building and to all Doors Open venues is free. A dedicated brochure with map of the Daniels Building will be available for visitors.

Visit the Doors Open Toronto website for a full list of participating sites.