Jorgenson

Jorgenson Hall (JOR)

It is important to know about the building in which you find yourself. This knowledge ties you to the land you are on and its history. Jorgenson Hall is named after Fred Jorgenson. He served as the second Principal of Ryerson Polytechnical Institute from 1966 to 1969. About a year into his role, he changed the title of his position to President. Despite this lofty new title, Jorgenson’s relationship with faculty and students was marked by a certain degree of informality: he asked faculty to call him by his first name, which was highly unusual at the time, and the student body referred to him affectionately as “Uncle Fred”. Indeed, unlike his predecessor, Howard Kerr, who was called “the lion”, Jorgenson was known as “the lamb”, not because he was meek but because he was good natured and friendly.

Through his interactions with the student body, staff and faculty, Jorgenson sought to foster a tight-knit community. For example, he visited a graduating student in the hospital to confer their diploma. He also sent Christmas greetings to the Ryerson community every year well into the 1980s, long after he left his post as President. He was one of the institution’s most beloved leaders. Students and faculty felt he was unpretentious, and cared about their and the school’s wellbeing and prosperity. Alongside his desire to cultivate a strong community spirit, Jorgenson’s penultimate ambition was to see Ryerson become a degree granting institution. This goal was realized in 1971, when the Institute became a member of the Council of Ontario Universities. 

To commemorate Fred Jorgenson’s legacy at Ryerson, Jorgenson Hall’s construction began in 1969 and was completed in 1971. The 14 storey tower is located at 380 Victoria Street, and is attached to the Podium building, connecting it to the TMU Library. Standing at 190 feet, Jorgenson Hall was once the symbolic marker of the University due to its urban influence. Its architectural design is described as “brutalist”, and many think the building unattractive, unwelcoming and cold. Conversely, the design is seen to represent honesty because the raw materials used  expose the bones - i.e. reinforced concrete - of the building. The interior layout consists of ‘environmentally controllable’ spaces, allowing daylight to illuminate and warm particular areas only. The architecture of the building is really quite exemplary and was ahead of its time. 

Rumors circulate about a hidden floor at the very top of the building tower housing an apartment for use by the University’s President - a kind of official residence. There is no truth to this tale. However, at the base of the building, underneath the lower ground floor, is a sub basement that is only accessible to some. Made up of a tunnel and open crawl spaces, the low height sub basement houses mechanical machinery along with water, steam and natural gas pipes. Like a number of other downtown buildings, Jorgenson Hall, or at least portions of it, is steam heated. 

Resource List

Architectural Conservancy Ontario. Ryerson University; Jorgenson Hall. (2019, November 27). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://www.acotoronto.ca/show_building.php?Building.

Downing, J. (1972-1978). History of Ryerson Based Upon a Work by John Downing, 443–448. Toronto Metropolitan University, Archives & Special Collections.

Harvard, S. (1988, February 17). All the presidential men. The Ryersonian, 4.

Jorgenson, F. (1968, 27 September). Frederick Jorgenson to the students,staff,graduates and Board of Governors, September 27, 1968 [Letter]. Ryerson University, Ryerson Archives & Special Collections, Toronto, Ontario. 

Mackenzie, R, (2022, April 18). Archives A to Z 2022 Week 3. Toronto Metropolitan University Archives & Special Collections. https://library.torontomu.ca/asc/category/feature-from-the-collections/

“Obituary,” Evan J. Strong Funeral Home, (https://www.evanjstrong.com/obituary/ Frederick-Jorgenson: accessed 24 June 2022), Frederick Charles Jorgenson, died 08 June 2016.

SAIT. (2016, June 14). Remembering Fred Jorgenson, Former President. SAIT, Calgary, Alberta. Retrieved December 4, 2021, from https://gatewaygazette.ca/sait-remembering-fred-jorgenson-former-president/

Stagg, R. (1998). Serving Society’s Needs: A History of Ryerson Polytechnical University [Pamphlet]. Ryerson University. 

Wong, O. (2021, March 7). Archives A to Z: Part 2. Toronto Metropolitan University Archives & Special Collections. https://library.torontomu.ca/asc/2021/03/archives-a-to-z-part-2/