Built in 1966, William Davis Public School located at 2855 Rivard is one of the most unique structures in the city.
The school is a two story round building. I don’t have any information on the architects, but I suspect Johnson & McWhinnie, as they have used the brick piers that rise above the roofline before in some of their other structures, giving the building somewhat of a castellated look.
When viewed from above the building kind of looks like a Reece’s Peanut Butter Cup. 🙂
One of my favourite features has to be the matching circular canopy over the front door. What an interesting piece of Windsor architecture. Love or Hate modern architecture, there’s no denying its uniqueness.
The school on Victoria between Wyandotte & Park is completely round also, not sure the name of it though. It might be possible the same architect designed it as well.
The architecture of these schools ihas always interested me. I am sadly! old enough to remember the controversy when these schools started popping up across the province. The 1960’s was a time of radical change in education. The interiors of these buildings were open concept, with few walls. The idea of a “communal” environment with students being able to access different teachers, move freely among the resources and look to older children as mentors was an innovative idea that seemed so fresh and right…….the only problem was that it didn’t work very well. Many (most?) young children aren’t at the developmental stage where they can capably cope with this degree of stimulation. Gradually, the province did move back to more conventional designs that provide more routine in a little more calm and consistent environment . There were some good things about the Davis type of school and I think that the newer schools designs incoporate these innovations while maintaining a balance with the more traditional approach.
I’ve been inside Davis – it has been retrofitted – and like most retrofits has a rather “muddled” feel. I have heard from other people that it is an important part of the neighbourhood, with a sense of community, and that’s what matters, I think.
I think that this is a good example of what is so interesting about architecture – it tells such a clear story about the time and place when the building was built – what seems odd to us now (even just 41 years later), made perfect sense (and was exciting and new) in 1966.
Sorry for the long rambling post.
I went to an “open concept” school as well. For all the criticisms leveled about distractions and such, I can’t remember the layout being that great of a hardship on my ability to zone out both my own teacher as well as those on either side of my classroom. 😉
I went to an open concept and an older school tha tis now condos (Ste. Genevieve) and I must say the closed classroom was much better than the loud and distracting open concept.
I always thought this school looked like a drum tipped on its side. Schools like Davis were probably built cheaply to satisfy the city’s booming population in the 1960’s and lack the beautiful, intricate details that make older schools like W.C Kennedy or W.D Lowe shine like jewels in a crown. I think the 1920’s and 1930’s were the golden age of school construction while the 50’s and 60’s were the golden age of mediocre architecture.
The more I look at these photos the more I wonder if this is one of these buildings with an encoded message in the architecture design – the window pattern doesn’t seem completely symetrical in all places, as though there is some kind of purpose to their layout beyond “hey let’s put a window here…….and here……..and here……..”
Thanks Rich. I forgot about that one. I tried to shoot it a few years ago, and because of the fence I couldn’t get a good shot… It totally slipped my mind.
I know this an old post, but further information (along with picture of the original school) can be found at:
http://www.gecdsb.on.ca/schools/ELEM/davis/past.htm
The original brick “bench” in front was removed in Summer 2001 (I believe) to make room for a larger parking lot.
I went here in grade school…its amazing
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I was one of the students at William G. Davis. It was definitely and new concept. For myself, it was very disconcerting, as to this day, I still have trouble listening to only one thing at a time. The open concept made it very hard to concentrate on your lessons. I would have to say that it did not do well for many of the students.
I remember going to this school, I could wave across the room to my younger sister in the next class over. In spite of the obvious distractions (hey they look like they are having more fun over there), or wow their teacher is way better, you had more of a sense of belonging as you knew everyone you went to school with. I enjoyed my days at William G. Davis