East stairwell facing playground, Davisville Avenue, Davisville P.S.

Davisville Public School photo series #1.

Davisville Junior Public School was one of several innovative structures designed by Peter Pennington, chief design architect for the Toronto School Board in response to the baby boom that followed the Second World War. It opened in 1962, and at different times it also housed the Metropolitan Toronto School for the Deaf, and the Spectrum Alternative School. In 2016, to accommodate a large increase in enrollment, the Toronto District School Board decided to demolish and replace the entire school building rather than renovate it or build an addition. Despite considerable opposition from groups concerned with the preservation of Toronto's architectural heritage, the school was closed and demolished in 2018. Since other architectural photographers had already documented the school's exterior, Peter MacCallum sought permission to photograph its interiors, and was able to get access for two days in September, 2017, as it was being prepared for the students' return from their summer holiday.