Architecture in Toronto has been getting a lot of attention lately. Some of the coverage has even been positive. The Toronto Archives and the Friends of the Archives of Ontario are capitalizing on the trend, presenting a lecture series (PDF) in coming weeks to be hosted by the Star's architecture critic and urban affairs columnist, Christopher Hume.

The series kicks off this Thursday, February 21 at 7 p.m. at the Toronto Archives building at 255 Spadina Road. Scott Weir (E.R.A. Architects) will take a look at preservation efforts at Bishop's Block and nineteenth-century mapping with Goad's and Boulton atlases. Peter Hamilton (Peter Hamilton Architects) will discuss how modern buildings can be designed to blend into older streetscapes and neighbourhoods.

Future lectures come on Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m., when Stephen Otto and Michael McClelland will discuss "The Importance of Archives"; Dave Meslin and Pleasance Crawford examine "The Spaces Between Buildings" on Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m.; and Parks Canada architectural historian Andrew Waldron winds up the series on Saturday, April 5 at 1:30 p.m. with "Researching the Recent Past."

Pre-registration is required for the lectures; call (416-392-0558) or email Paul Sharkey to secure your free tickets.

Photo by alfred ng from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.