October 4, 2006 Source: :
http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/061004-2605.asp U of T projects win clean and
beautiful city appreciation
awards Bennett Gates and
Davenport-Lash Miller garden recognized
Oct 4/06
by Mary Alice Thring (about) (email) The University of Toronto’s Bennett Gates and the Davenport Chemical
Research Building-Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories garden are winners of
the city of Toronto’s Clean and Beautiful City Appreciation Awards in
recognition of the part they play in enhancing the urban fabric. The awards, announced Sept. 26, were developed to identify and celebrate
outstanding contributions that help make Toronto a cleaner and more
beautiful city, recognizing that beauty is not a "frill" but essential to
the city's economic future, the social welfare of its residents and their
civic pride. The elegant stone structures now known as the Bennett Gates date to 1932 and
were relocated to the Hoskin Avenue entrance to Philosopher’s Walk from the
south side of the Tanz Neuroscience Building. The pineapple finials are the
universal sign of hospitality and the gates have also been planted with
native yews and perennials for visual appeal and sustainability. In addition
to providing appropriate welcome to the south end of the walk, the entire
relocation project includes replacement and consolidation of walkways and
screening of the Trinity College service area. The installation of the gates
represents the first phase of a long-range master plan for maintaining and
enhancing Philosopher’s Walk as a heritage landscape. The area behind Davenport-Lash Miller, once identified as the most barren
and inhospitable place on the St. George campus, has now been transformed in
to a hidden oasis, with an outstanding water feature, sumptuous native
grasses, groundcovers and trees. Scott Mabury, chair of chemisty says the garden has completely revitalized
students', faculty and staff's use of the space. "We love spending time in
the garden. It has provided a venue for Chemistry to come together as a
community - planting trees, cover crops, weeding, picking up trash - it is
now part of our home." Building on the success of the St. George Street revitalization, the garden
creates an attractive east-west corridor linking the historic centre campus
with the academic divisions on both sides of St. George Street. The garden
has become a hidden refuge that complements the restoration of St. George
Street. In addition to enhancing the environment, it has provided
much-needed accessibility options for both the chemistry building and
McLennan Physical Laboratories.
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