Over at Yonge and Gould Street, a mind-boggling architectural facility is transforming the former site of Sam the Record Man into a new student centre for Ryerson University. Designed by Zeidler Partnership Architects and SnøhettaIt, it's architecture with a Norwegian twist near the Eaton Centre Shopping Mall. The Ryerson Student Centre is an eight-storey building with a transparent glass façade that will serve as an academic and learning centre for faculty and staff. The student centre was made possible by an investment of $45 million from the Government of Ontario. The centre which includes retail space on the main level is expected to be completed this year.
This past year, the fate of the iconic Sam the Record Man sign has been left hanging. The community pleading with Ryerson officials to Save the Sign from destruction. Toronto musicians like Gordon Lightfoot, Rush singer Geddy Lee and Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning, wrote letters to the mayor and city council asking to save the sign. According to Ryerson officials the sign will rise again. Officials promised to "re-erect the sign in exchange for the city not designating the whole building as historic." The city says the sign must be house at the new student centre or at the university's library on Gould Street. Although Ryerson has agreed with the city, they are also saying that it will be difficult to find a spot as the sign doesn't fit within either building. The sign is currently being held in pieces inside a tractor-trailer at a top secret location north of the city.
· A quiet year for Toronto architecture, but good times ahead [Toronto Star]
· Sam the Record Man sign lives to rise again [Toronto Star]
· Sam the Record Man's Boxing Day Sale Lives on [O.Canada]