Classes Once at Hoskin: Until the 1970s, most undergraduate classes for Trinity students were taught inside the Hoskin building itself, before Trinity’s undergraduate program became fully integrated with the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts & Science.
The Mystery Sculptures: The 12 carved stone heads in Seeley Hall have never been definitively identified. Archivist Sylvia Lassam would “love to know the source” of these mythical figures that complement the Tudor arches.
Zodiac Signs Above the Quad Doors: The north entrance to the Quad features astrological symbols carved around the doorway—unusual for a college with religious affiliation, but not unprecedented (there’s a similar one at Chartres Cathedral). Read more about Trinity’s carvings
A Chapel Before the Chapel: From 1925 to 1955, Seeley Hall served as the College’s chapel before the current one was built.
The Ladies’ Lounge: Today’s Provost’s Office was once a lounge reserved for women, who were excluded from Strachan Hall and the men’s common rooms. A spiral stair led to their lockers in the basement.
From Reading Room to Student Services: The Student Services Centre began life as the College’s library reading room, complete with fireplace and a dumb waiter to move books. That shaft is now the elevator.
Shakespeare in the Quad: Long before it was fully enclosed, the quadrangle doubled as a summer stage. From 1949–1958, it was the summer home of the Earle Grey Players, a professional Shakespeare company led by actor, playwright, and director Earle Grey. Each season featured multiple plays and Elizabethan music, with students often helping behind the scenes.
Frank Darling’s Final Work: The architect died before 6 Hoskin Avenue was completed, making Trinity his final masterpiece. A biography of Darling will be published in 2025, coinciding with the building’s centennial.
Treasures from Queen Street: The main entrance contains the original cornerstone from the Queen Street Trinity College building, with Latin text relating to the College’s founding. Several wooden benches with carved gryphons were also brought from the original building and placed in the main corridor.
The Heart of College Tradition: Completed in the early 1940s, Strachan Hall was built to seat the entire student body — about 250 students — for dinner. Though Trinity has grown beyond that capacity (2024-2025 student enrolment was around 2,200 students), Strachan remains the ceremonial heart of College life. It continues to host High Table and community dinners, convocations, alumni gatherings, and student celebrations, carrying forward traditions that connect generations.
If These Walls Could Talk: Share Your Hoskin Memory
As the Trinity community celebrates this milestone, all alumni are invited to add their voices to the “If These Walls Could Talk” project. Whether you remember an Advent carol service in the Trinity Chapel, an autumn afternoon in the Quad, or a conversation that changed your life, your story is part of the Hoskin building story — and the next century begins with you. Share your memory (with photos, if you can!) or make a special 100th birthday gift to support Trinity College.
