The oldest and largest academic structure at the University of Toronto Mississauga, this brutalist landmark was designed by acclaimed architect Raymond Moriyama as the centrepiece of a visionary campus master plan.
At a glance
The Davis Building anchors the Mississauga campus with its monumental concrete form. Completed in 1973, it remains the primary administrative and academic hub, housing the campus principal’s office, dean, departments, laboratories, and student services. Named in 2010 to honour Ontario premier William G. Davis, it survived the demolition of the original North Building in 2015.
History
When Erindale College was established in 1967, only two buildings existed on campus. This structure, originally called the South Building, emerged from architect John Andrews’ ambitious master plan—a vision of the entire campus as a unified mega-structure integrated into the Credit River Valley landscape. Raymond Moriyama designed the completed building, finished in 1973. The companion North Building stood until 2015, when it was demolished and rebuilt. The structure received its current name in 2010, honouring the education minister and premier whose policies shaped Ontario’s post-secondary system.
What you see
The building exemplifies brutalism through its bold concrete massing and monumental form. Its design expresses the ambition of the original campus vision—a single integrated structure rather than dispersed buildings. The form responds to its dramatic setting above the Credit River Valley, creating a dramatic architectural anchor for the campus environment.
Cultural significance
The Davis Building represents a distinctive moment in Canadian campus planning, when architects envisioned universities as cohesive architectural statements rather than collections of independent structures. Moriyama’s design and Andrews’ master plan reflect 1970s ideals about integrated institutional design and environmental integration.
Key facts
- Country: Canada
- City: Mississauga, Ontario
- Completed: 1973
- Architect: Raymond Moriyama
- Original name: South Building
- Master plan architect: John Andrews
- Coordinates: 43.54861869, -79.66152103
Practical information & getting there
The building is located on the University of Toronto Mississauga campus in Mississauga, Ontario. You can visit the campus during business hours; contact the university for specific building access and tour availability.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →📷 Diventa un fotografo di Cultural Heritage Online
Condividi le tue foto dei luoghi: restano pubblicate con la tua firma come autore. Più vengono viste, più ti fai conoscere — e presto un concorso premierà le foto più apprezzate.
Accedi o registrati gratis per aggiungere una fotoDo you manage this place?
This page is read by travellers and heritage enthusiasts who find it on Google. Keep it accurate — and make it work for you. Free for non-profit heritage institutions.