SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE. THE following plans of the exterior and interior of the Norinal and Model Schools for Upper Canada, are inserted in this edition of School Architecture, &c., as that Institution, in architectural design and adaptation to the end proposed, stands at the head of all others in the Province connected with the Educational Department. The interior arrangements are also sometimes referred to in the plans which follow: DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS. The Normal and Model Schools and Education Offices for Upper Canada-erected A.D. 1852—are situated upon the centre of an open square of about seven acres and a half of ground, bounded on the north by Gerrard Street, on the east by Church Street, on the south by Goold Street, and on the west by Victoria Street, in the City of Toronto. The distance from the bay is about three-quarters of a mile. The situation is a very beautiful one, being considerably elevated above the business parts of the city, and commanding a fine view of the bay, peninsula, and lake. In a building of so great an extent, it appeared to be neither desirable nor expedient to adopt a rich or highly finished style of embellishment. The whole has been designed with a view rather to utility than for effect; care being taken, however, to maintain that fitness of decoration by which the purpose and importance of the institution may be characterized and upheld. The principal Normal School building, as seen in the perspective, fig. 1, is 184 feet 4 inches frontage, by a depth on the flanks, east and west, of 85 feet 4 inches. The front is in the Roman Doric order of Palladian character, having for its centre four pilasters of the full height of the building, with pediment surmounted by an open Doric cupola, of the extreme height of 95 feet. The principal entrance (to the offices of the Educational Department, &c.) is in this front; those for the male and female students being placed on the east and west sides respectively, C and D in fig. 3. In the centre of the building is a large central hall (open to the roof, and lighted by a lantern), with a gallery around it, at the level of the upper floor, at B, in fig. 4, approached on the lower floor by three corridors-south, east, and west-and opening on the north to the theatre, or examination hall. Fig. 2 gives a perspective view of the Model School in front, and of the Normal School in the rear. A Model Grammar School, to be placed in front of the present Model Common Schools, is now in process of erection, and, by its more imposing exterior and greater height, will produce a better effect,-viewed from the point presented in the perspective now given. B FIG. 1. PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE EDUCATION OFFICE AND NORMAL SCHOOL FOR UPPER CANADA, (THE SMALL BUILDINGS IN THE REAR ARE THE MODEL SCHOOLS.) FIG. 2.-REAR PERSPECTIVE OF THE NORMAL AND MODEL SCHOOLS, TORONTO. (THE MODEL SCHOCIS ARE THE SMALL BUILDINGS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT.) On the East side, fig. 3, the accommodation on the ground floor is as follows:- Public Library Book Depository, No. 1..... 0"x 28: North of the central hall is the theatre, with Lecturer's entrance in in the centre, B and side entrances east and west, d, d, for male and female students respectively. Here the aisles are marked a, b, and c, with seats arranged between them; the Lecturer's platform being placed between Band e This portion of the theatre is designed to accommodate 470 persons, and the galleries 150, making in all 620. Around the theatre, and beneath its gallery, are east and west corridors, by which the students enter the Model School. By this arrangement it will be seen that, except when actually in the presence of the masters, the male and female students are entirely separated. Passing by the corridors last named to the Model School, which is 175 feet 6 inches, by 59 feet 6 inches, the students enter the boys' and girls' schools by doors to the east and west, each of which has a large school-room at its centre, 56 feet 6 inches 33 feet, capable of accommodating 200 children, with four smaller class rooms adjoining it, about 17 feet 15 feet 6 inches each. The boys' and girls' entrances (like those of the students of the Normal School already described) are at the east and west ends of the building-such entrances having each a hat and cloak room and masters' or mistress' room on either side. These schools therefore will together accommodate 400 children. Returning to the Normal School, and passing to the upper floor, on the landing of the staircases A, A, are entrances to the gallery of the theatre, which is designed to accom. modate 150 persons. On the upper floor is the central hall, with its gallery B, connecting the east and west corridors, communicating with the following rooms :— Class Room, No. 1. Class Room, No. 2 Head Master's Room.. Second Master's Room. Educational Museum, No. 1 Educational Museum, No. 4 The Educational Museum is now in process of arrangement, and will shortly be open to the public. It will contain copies of paintings by the old masters; and casts of statues, groups, busts and statuettes, ancient and modern; specimens of Canadian natural history; and school apparatus, maps, charts, globes, &c. In addition to the accommodation thus enumerated, there are, in the basement, rooms for the residence of the Janitor, together with furnace rooms, from whence warm air is |