Regent Park South P.S.
(Later Regent Park P.S. Demolished 2016.)
Toronto Board of Education Staff, 1959
In a 1959 newspaper article, a board official described this as “the most worthy” of the new generation of schools. It served the Regent Park neighbourhood, which had just been reconstructed in a major “slum clearance” project.
Pennington and the board staff designed a playful structure with a staggered grid of colourful exterior panels and shallow triangular arches (a stylistic device common in Festival of Britain buildings) that carried through the building, marking the main corridor and the kindergarten.
This was a TDSB elementary school until it closed in 2013. It was transferred to the Toronto Catholic District School Board, who demolished in in 2016.
A drawing, possibly by Peter Pennington, depicts the school design close to its as-built form. TDSB ARCHIVES
A presentation model of the building. TDSB ARCHIVES
The front of the school, soon after completion. TDSB ARCHIVES
A rear view showing, from left, kindergarten, classrooms, gym and entrance. TDSB ARCHIVES
The main corridor. TDSB ARCHIVES
A kindergarten classroom. TDSB ARCHIVES
The main office. The ceiling reproduces the building's larger spatial idea at a child's scale. Custom millwork resembles that at other Pennington schools. TDSB ARCHIVES
The building in 2015, shortly before its demolition. Bright colours are visible on the doors and metal cladding, traces of the original design intent. VIK PAHWA
The building in 2015, shortly before its demolition. VIK PAHWA
The front entrance in 2015. VIK PAHWA
The kindergarten, 2015. VIK PAHWA
A long view of the school in 2015, before its demolition. The chimney's proportions and articulation match those at Winchester P.S. VIK PAHWA