The University was one building away from completing its first contingent of buildings, an Arts Building. A “College of Liberal Arts and Science” had been first on the list when President Murray presented his original plan for university education to the Board. Sketches for an Arts Building were requested as early as 1913. There were hopes that it would be ready for 1929, but in 1925 an underinsured Engineering Building burnt, and its rebuilding took all the available capital. Arts was actually put out to tender in 1930, but the Depression struck. In 1943 it was still first on a list of buildings required for after the war, remained the first new priority in 1946, and yet was not built until 1960-62, under the stimulation of Canada Council support.

After 1930 the University, like the city, remained virtually at a standstill for fifteen years. Enrollment in 1930 was 1,610 full-time students, in 1938 – 2,197, in 1944 – 1,607. The following year saw the return of the veterans and enrollment jumped to 4,310 by 1947, dropped to 2,056 in 1952/3, and then began the sharp rise to the 10,657 students in 1969, and 14,581 full-time students in 1994/95 (and 3,238 part-time students). Two early postwar buildings, Soils and Dairy (now John Mitchell), and the School of Agriculture (now Kirk Hall), introduced a fourth major building material to campus, a yellow brick, chosen when the preferred grey brick was unavailable. The major building of the time was the Medical Building-Hospital Complex, 1946-55, done in greystone, and also delayed when the government was short of money. Then came the Memorial Union Building, 1953-55, the last building in the centre of campus designed in the Collegiate Gothic Style and completely clad in greystone. None of these post-war buildings had the conviction of Brown and Vallance in Collegiate Gothic. It was time for a change.