Wells Street School Neo-Class-ical Architecture, Structurally Sound

Wells Street School Neo-Class-ical Architecture, Structurally Sound

In addition to its dominant and class presence in Aurora, former Wells Street School (Wells Street Schoolhouse Lofts) is also an example of the neo-classical architecture.

Wells Street Public School, Neo-Classical Architecture


In its purest form it is a style principally derived from the architecture of Classical Greece and the architecture of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio.‘ Source: Wiki

Sounds good to me, I always knew that there was something ‘Greek’ or ‘Italiain’ looking about the exteriors of the school. But then what’s inside the school, that is a different story.

Wells Street Public School, Auditorium


Couple more interior elements of historical value are the auditorium with stage and wood floor (above) and the glazed wood doors with tilting wood transoms (below).

Wells Street Public School, Doors


School was closed because of structural issues and the potential safety issues. As I toured the school inside it wasn’t hard to noticed that detailed structural assessment was performed on the school.

After the assessment it was determined that it would take millions of dollars to fix the school and too make it safe and operational again. Eventually school was closed.

Well Street Public School, Inspection


As of today the building is structurally sound, however, it would not be structurally sound if it continued to be educational institution with a everyday dynamic load of moving children and teachers. Everything has a life and the life of the educational institution is now over.

The idea to convert the school into residential units or lofts is a structurally sound idea. Exterior walls will be reinforced and more internal walls will be added that will add more support points making the building much stronger and probably to last in our community another 200 years or more.

Note, above is a photo of the stripped wall where the structural issue originated. When the wall was taken down for inspection, a window and door that was brick filled was uncovered. It will be interesting to find out what else the school is hiding and what else will be uncovered once the re-construction will take place.

Are you curious like me?

About the Author

Anna Lozyk Romeo

I am living in Aurora and this is my photo journal blog. A picture says 1000 words - but not always, so I write. You don't have to travel 1000 miles to find a treasure - all I have to do is zoom through my lens and I will find it for you here in Aurora.

Comments:

  1. Pretty! I love neoclassical.

  2. Thanks Marvin.
    Anna :)

  3. Thank you for your information about Wellls street public school. I would love to know if anything is happening with the developer. If you know anything it would be great to hear. Many thanks Dana

  4. Dana thank you for your comment.
    I will get back to you.
    Anna :)

  5. Hi Anna,
    I taught at Wells Street for 16 years. I would like to know if the first photo was taken in the classroom on the first floor ( North, East corner of the building). It was my classroom but from this photo the light fixture doesn’t look right. The second picture you have taken was actually our library. The stage was so small that we had to push everything back in the library to have room for the audience and we had to keep the caste small so they could fit on the stage. How did you get to go inside? I would love to have another peek. It was such and amazing place to work!!!

  6. Opps sorry looked at my post again… It’s the last photo of the classroom that I was curious about.

  7. Thank you for commenting Aynsley and sharing your comment about the library. I was actually questioning my photos to see if I did take any of the library. About the last photo I cannot tell you for sure, but I think it is the North, East corner of the building, and it is the one that been damaged thus the stripped walls for inspection (I will try to verify). I also remembered that this classroom had lot of posters projects left behind, French Fishbone Project. May be that will give you some clues. It was my first time ever in the school, so it was hard to absorb everything. RE getting inside, I asked the owners to photograph the school. Anna :)

  8. Hi Anna,
    From what you said about the posters, your photos are from the classroom on the top floor in the North East corner (the french room) which would have been the classroom directly above mine. Thank you for sharing your photos… it’s so wonderful to see inside again. It was an incredible building!

  9. Aynsley, thank you. It is possible that I might have photo of your room too, but not too sure. I will check it out. I will be posting more of the school in the near future.

    On the other note, I would like to ask you if you would know in this post http://livinginaurora.ca/aurora/wells-street-public-school-blackboard-graffiti-left-behind/, second photo, the holder is chalk holder or flag holder?

    Thanks,
    Anna