The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons participated once again this year in Doors Open after missing last year. The organization is housed in a former convent on the south side of the Rideau Canal. It is an administrative centre as opposed to an educational college; while medical students come here for testing, they're set mostly in hospitals over a wide area.
When this was a convent, this particular area was open to the elements; the College had it redesigned with a sun roof letting in a lot of light. It is now the main entrance of the largest building on the property.
This spiral stairs is in what is now used as a library space. In the convent days, this was one half of a chapel for the nuns, who lived in seclusion. One wall was open so that during mass, the priest could be seen by the nuns as he preached in the adjoining chapel, which was open to the public.
That second chapel was through this doorway. The space is now used as a conference hall, and the stained glass windows have been preserved.
Lots to see I. This place.
ReplyDeleteThe building is amazing and stained glass windows magnificent! Love your new header!
ReplyDeleteNice blues in those windows.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful job of repurposing! And I'll reiterate VP's comment about your new header.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on closing down a blog. I didn't realize that was happening!
A beautiful building. Nice new header, too!
ReplyDeleteNice photo's and a nice header too,
ReplyDeleteThe college is a really nice space with many lovely features William.. and I join with the others in saying fabulous news header shot!
ReplyDeleteliving as a cloistered nun would just be so strange! :)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful facility, regardless of what it is used for. Glad you got to see it inside and out!
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
@Sharon: and it's very photogenic.
ReplyDelete@VP: it's a building with a lot of character.
@Revrunner: it was good that the college preserved them.
@Lowell: it would have been a shame to tear it down. I have seen other blogs get closed down and months later spam would turn up from that same blog, so spammers have a way of hijacking. It's best to just leave the blog open but not used.
@Marleen: thank you!
@Marianne: thanks!
@Grace: thank you!
@Tex: I can't imagine it.
@Janis: it's a wonderful building. I was glad it took part again.
Now whoever saw that the convent could be made into an administrative center had a good head. It looks like the building was well renovated so that the best of the convent was kept. I like the background of how the convent operated.
ReplyDeleteThe stained glass windows do it again for me in this post, I like the blue colors.
ReplyDeleteI lived just down the street from a Sisters of Mercy convent. I still get the shivers!
ReplyDeletebtw Your banner would be super in winter, frozen ice, some skaters, bridge college in background.You are welcome. Think about it. No finder fee needed. hahaha
ReplyDeleteThis event must be so much fun. I love that staircase.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous building!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. I would have like to have seen it when it was a convent. A wonderful job of restoring though. Love the stained glass windows. Good for Open Doors.
ReplyDeleteMB
wow, this is soooo beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful coat of arms and great atmosphere thanks to the stained glass windows.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful windows!
ReplyDeleteI like the stairs, though I would not want them in my home. I do find them pretty to look at.
ReplyDeleteImpressive!
ReplyDeletePS I love your new header!
ReplyDeleteNice! I love their emblem, too.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! I think I'd enjoy a conference held there!!! Hope all is well with you!!!
ReplyDeleteA very interesting interior William...
ReplyDeleteNice looking campus. Love your new banner photo too.
ReplyDeleteI like the flood of light in that second shot. They did a good job of modifying the space.
ReplyDelete@Red: it was a wonderful adaptation of space.
ReplyDelete@Jan: these windows are so colourful, I've always thought. Keeping them was the right thing to do.
@Birdman: I like to say Sisters Of Little Or No Mercy. And actually, I have used that very image before as a winter header, shot from the other side of the Canal.
@Judy: it's quite a staircase!
@Jackie: I've always thought so.
@MB: there are certain differences when looking at period photos.
@Gunn: thank you!
@Jose: those windows really give that room such a good mood.
@RedPat: I figured I'd get some interesting reactions about the windows!
ReplyDelete@Whisk: one would not want to have to go up and down them all day.
@Norma: thank you!
@Linda: me too.
@Chieftess: all is well, yes.
@Geoff: I was pleased to know it was participating again this year.
@Randy: thank you.
@Jack: the architects who handled the conversion really knew what they were doing.
Nice renovation! So nice they were able to keep much of the old convent!
ReplyDeleteThey have a really cool place!
ReplyDeleteThis is really beautiful! The sunroof is such a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness they had enough sense to preserve those magnificent glass stained windows.
ReplyDeleteIt's an excellent example of redesign! I love it! You must have taken 100s of photo on your trek!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great spot to visit and photograph more than once!
ReplyDeleteLooks great and beautiful buildning.
ReplyDeleteHugs
@Cheryl: it's a good conversion.
ReplyDelete@Ciel: they do.
@Kay: it is, yes.
@Mari: definitely.
@Jennifer: I took lots.
@EG: indeed.
@Orvokki: thank you.