Working without a master plan, Massey and his architect continued to adopt new ideas and expand existing ones as construction progressed.

[4] Massey's donation stipulated that the building was to be used only by men, as he felt that a coeducational facility would ruin the sense of collegiality that he hoped to create.

He also said, "It's a pleasure to be in a country where women cannot mix in everywhere" (ignoring the female students who picketed outside with signs proclaiming "Unfair!"

[6][7][8] The first unofficial Commonwealth conference was held at Hart House from the 11-21 September 1933 (The Commonwealth Relations Conference) organised by the Canadian Institute of International Affairs and the UK Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) at the invitation of one of the delegates Vincent Massey.

In keeping with the Gothic form, the building is presented as larger in height than in width, which gives an even greater sense of grandeur to those standing at its base.

The contours of the building are jagged, emphasizing the Gothic form and giving Hart House the profile of an academic institution of that time period.

Below grade, backstage, at the rear wall of the theatre, there are scars formed by service ammunition, giving the building a sense of character.

There are also elements forged into the walls of the building, like the first occupants of the house, who are remembered on the south façade, as well as carvings over the bay windows of the map room which depict the principal units that were stationed there during the war.

The Great Hall holds another souvenir, inconsistent with the Gothic setting: one of the stone corbels has been carved to represent an officer cadet of 1916 in uniform, carrying his field pack and rifle.

[11] Hart House is an example of Gothic Revival architecture as it is asymmetrical with pointed arches and windows, extensive ornamentation, steeply pitched roofs and a tall tower.

Although Hart House appears to be of masonry construction, it is actually structural steel and precast concrete with grey sandstone cladding.

The majority of elements within Hart House hint at the Perpendicular style of Gothic architecture and thus generally line up in a row.

Arches and vaults are the dominant structural form, however, there are parts of the building that employ lintels to create open spaces with flat ceilings (such as the East Common Room).

The use of rocky dark sandstone and limestone materials contrasted greatly with the smooth brick lining inside, the pointed-arch shape dominating the windows and doors and hallways.

The porch is another Gothic-revival element that architect Henry Sproatt added, a protected space in front of the main entrances for people to hide in case of bad weather.

[20] Since its founding, the club has served host to numerous famous chess players throughout the years, including Paul Keres, Samuel Reshevsky, George Koltanowski, and World Chess Championship winners Bobby Fischer, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Boris Spassky and Evgeny Bareev.

These include the writing groups le mot juste and the Algonquin Square Table, as well as the Hart House Review.

Rohinton Mistry, Camilla Gibb, Lynn Crosbie and similarly notable names in Canadian literature have been published in the HHR.

The review also hosts lecture and reading events that feature established and emerging figures in Canadian literature and publishing.

Delivered by a lecturer chosen by a committee of students, staff and alumni, it generally takes place in late March in the Great Hall of Hart House.

Dr. Nutt spoke about citizens' role as privileged North Americans and their ability to effect change in war-torn countries.

Other past lecturers have included Michael Geist (2006), David Bornstein (2005), Jennifer Welsh, (2004), Alan Lightman (2002) and Pico Iyer (2001).

Hart House Theatre cultivated and featured some of the country's finest actors, directors, playwrights and designers of the Pre-World War II era, including Raymond Massey, Dora Mavor Moore, Lloyd Bochner, Lawren Harris, Arthur Lismer, Wayne and Shuster and Merrill Denison.

William Hutt, Don Harron, Kate Reid, David Gardner, Arthur Hiller, Donald Sutherland, Norman Jewison and Lorne Michaels all got their start on the Hart House stage.

With over a thousand students participating each year in its extra-curricular season of drama, dance, music and film, Hart House Theatre continues to influence each new generation.

Since 1976, the HHO has provided an opportunity for members of the University of Toronto community with musical interest and training, to fellowship and perform challenging symphonic works.

Membership is determined annually by audition, open to university students at all levels of study, alumni, faculty, staff and Hart House senior members.

Past concert tour destinations have included Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Windsor, London, Guelph and Sudbury.

On a few special occasions, the orchestra has toured to Carnegie Hall, New York City; Tübingen, Düsseldorf and Göttingen, Germany; Chicago, Illinois; and Ann Arbor, Michigan.