School Halls

 Lisgar Collegiate is a high school in downtown Ottawa, and a regular part of Doors Open. This year I resolved to go, and it was my last stop on the first day of the event. Its roots date back to 1843, with locations changing in the early years. By the 1870s, it was known as Ottawa Collegiate, and found its current home here. The main building is in the Gothic Revival style, with its first stages from this time and added on here and there since. Today, a more modern building stands across the pedestrians only street, to the right of me in this photograph. It houses more space for students, and there are athletic facilities on the property as well.

Gothic architecture always appeals to me, and this one is an exquisite example of that.

Inside the main entrance, stained glass is to be found.

Just beyond, a memorial hall features plaques in honour of Lisgar alumni who died and served in the world wars, Korea, and other military service. 

The tour of the building was conducted with a pair of students leading a group of visitors, which is really the best way to do something like this. The students led us around, in and out of the building, pointing out various aspects of the architecture, its enlargements and changes, and the history of the school.

It's the additional details of Gothic architecture that appeal to me. We walked through the corridors, had a look in classrooms, and heard a couple of sad stories- one involving the death of a student, hit by fallen ice. The other is the story of a caretaker who died, and whose ghost is said to still look after the place.

The school has a strong emphasis in academics, and its students have a history of placing highly in the province. Here we find ourselves in the auditorium, a beautiful space.

Faces up in the architecture above the balcony caught my eye.

It was an enlightening visit. Departing, I photographed the newer building across the way, which includes a gym, computer labs, music rooms, and other classes. Though the building is obviously newer and not in the same style, its use of stone works well with the main building.