The Toronto Society of Architects is looking for a student intern to conduct research on the buildings and landscapes of York University for the TSA Database, a digital project showcasing modern and contemporary spaces of the Greater Toronto Area, and help develop an accompanying virtual tour.
About the organization:
Established in 1887, the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) is a non-profit volunteer-led organization dedicated to bringing people together to discuss, learn and explore around our shared passion for the built environment.
We are committed to the betterment of our city and have played an important advocacy role throughout Toronto’s history. We do this through a wide range of programs which foster welcoming and inclusive forums for debate and the exchange of ideas, stimulating critical thinking about the design and building issues of our time. Our public programming is complemented by initiatives supporting the personal growth and professional development of over 2000 TSA members. Membership is open to everyone and welcomes design professionals, students and the general public.
Learn more about the TSA at www.torontosocietyofarchitects.ca
About the placement:
As part of our educational and public outreach initiatives, the TSA is developing a curated digital database showcasing some of the Greater Toronto Area’s most significant modern and contemporary buildings and landscapes. This user-friendly database, which will be hosted on the TSA website and accessible to everyone, incorporates high-quality photographs, along with architectural drawings, sketches, and archival images to help tell the stories behind the buildings and landscapes.
Working closely with the Programming Director, the successful applicant will provide research and documentation support for the development of database entries with specific focus on buildings of York University, dating from the 1960s to present. Material collected will also be used to develop a special virtual tour available on Instagram to make the information accessible to all. Tasks may include:
- Research buildings, including verifying architectural credits, reasons for inclusion and assessment of current conditions and accessibility.
- Visiting local archives, sifting through historic documents and coordinating image selections and acquisitions.
- Conducting interviews with architects and historians.
- Identifying relevant sources for each building and preparing research notes.
- Writing short, public-friendly descriptions for building entries, including highlighting the relevance of entry to Toronto’s architectural history.
The student intern will also have opportunities to participate in other TSA programming including networking opportunities with professionals from across the GTA working in a variety of practices.
Requirements
While this position is largely expected to take place remotely, the ideal candidate would be based in Toronto in order to visit the buildings and participate in TSA events.
Because many archives in the city only operate Monday to Friday during regular business hours, it is expected that the selected candidate would have some availability during weekdays to make visits to the archives.
Timing or hours of placement: Placement begins the week of May 8. Hours per week can be flexible up to a maximum of 120 hours per semester (typically 12-15 hours per week). This opportunity can extend to two semesters—please indicate in your application if you prefer the internship to last one or two terms (one term is 8 weeks, May through June; two terms is 16 weeks, May through August).
Credit: Half credit (0.5) or full credit (1.0) — please see the note about duration above, and indicate your preference in your application. This internship is for pass/fail course credit at the University of Toronto through the Department of Art History. This is not a paid position.
Interested students should send an application by April 7, 2023 to Dr Jessica Mace (jessica.mace@utoronto.ca). Applications should include 1) a letter of interest (including any relevant coursework or experience), 2) a bursary eligibility form, and 3) a resume. Please indicate to which posting(s) you are applying. If you are interested in multiple postings, you only need to submit one application.
This project has been funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning program and CEWIL Canada’s iHUB.
This project is supported by the Learning & Education Advancement Fund at the University of Toronto.
Canada constructed: architecture, landscape, history 