Opened on January 28, 1978 as part of the TTC’s Spadina Line expansion, Lawrence West Station is a study in understated design and functional architecture. Situated just west of Allen Road, it was built to move people efficiently—without the ornamentation or flourish seen in newer stations. Instead, its appeal lies in its quiet geometry: dark brick, exposed concrete, and the familiar orange tilework that ties it to the era’s design language.
Though the area above has evolved over the decades, the station itself remains largely unchanged—a time capsule of late-70s urban planning. Narrow skylights cast streaks of light across hard surfaces, creating sharp contrasts and rich shadows that reward a photographer’s eye. It’s a place where the textures of transit—angular corridors, heavy materials, and echoes of motion—come together to form a space that feels both overlooked and deeply familiar.
Station Photos
