100 Spadina Rd. Photo by Andrew Louis.
What happens when a building’s heritage conservation is complicated by new building codes that were non-existent at the time of its construction? This was the case for Park Property Management’s renovation of 100 Spadina Rd., one of Uno Prii’s designs erected in 1969. As highlighted in Dave Leblanc’s article in The Globe and Mail, Prii’s pop art concrete block railings had deteriorated, but could not simply be replaced as they no longer met building code requirements. Fortunately, Park Property Management teamed up with ERA Architects, Brook Restoration, and Ontech Building Consultants to act as heritage specialists. Their conservation expertise resulted in an innovative fix. The restored building now boasts beautiful glass balconies with the original block pattern cleverly etched onto its surface. This preservation process allows the community to enjoy Prii’s groovy 60s’ aesthetic even in the 21st century.
