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ERA Architects

Projects

Rotman School of Management

Located along the central spine of the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus, the Rotman School of Management needed to expand to accommodate growing programming, student body, and faculty. The expansion of the school incorporated the designated heritage building known as the John Downey House at 97 St. George. Additional classroom, faculty, and student spaces are organized in a new...

Stories

Ideas & Issues

Storefronts and urban evolution: Q&A with Shannon Clayton 

by Alessandro Tersigni

This week ERA is exploring the history and design of storefront architecture. To understand the origins, evolution, and future of this iconic feature of commercial buildings, ERA writer-researcher Alessandro Tersigni sat down with Shannon Clayton, the firm’s resident storefront expert. Shannon has worked on many conservation projects involving the design of new storefronts for commercial heritage buildings in Toronto, including...

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Ridgeway workshop

Building for the community, with the community

by ERA Architects

...projects begin with robust and integrated community engagement. As city builders, we and our partners have the opportunity to transform underused spaces into places that better serve the community. Making the most impact requires filling a need, one that is identified by the community itself. By taking cues from human-centred design principles, we can put the user, whether it be...

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People

Breaking down barriers in the landscape: Q&A with Brendan Stewart

by Alessandro Tersigni, writer & researcher

...this collective experience with a bunch of strangers. Afterwards, you’re like, “Whoa—where were we? That was a totally different, deeply human headspace: I felt so connected to everybody there.” I’m inspired by the idea that we as design practitioners can create in landscapes that type of liminal space that breaks down barriers and makes our human connections feel palpable. We...

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Passive House: A new way of working with existing buildings

by ERA Architects

Cities are at the forefront of climate change. In the fight for a low-carbon future, a new wave of building standards is changing how we think about energy-efficiency and environmentally friendly design. One of the top standards is Passive House. According to Passive House Canada, Passive House is regarded as the “most rigorous voluntary energy-based standard in the design and...

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Accessibility & Heritage Conservation

by ERA Architects

...overview of the legislation, process, approaches, and examples of barriers to accessibility. Barriers are more than just physical, and often they are rooted in societal attitudes and practices, which can sometimes be addressed through thoughtful design considerations. The students learned about two design solutions: barrier free design (with no physical obstacles) and universal design (accessibility for all people regardless of...

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Allan Gardens: a new public space design competition

by Graeme Stewart

...neighbourhood, engage the local community, and to foster cultural expression and experimentation that contributes to a broader design discourse in Toronto’s public spaces. It is our hope that “Explore the Edge” becomes a robust, sustainable, and energetic addition to the human and built environments of Jarvis community and the city of Toronto. On Sunday, May 6, at 9 a.m., Councillor...

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The city as garden

by ERA Architects

...fingertips. Imagine how the Toronto of tomorrow could learn from the garden and design traditions of its diverse cultural groups. “Designed landscapes should mimic how nature functions, but not necessarily how nature looks. In fact some evidence shows that ‘natural looking’ designed landscapes are more likely to be neglected as they age because they are not seen as something that...

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Public space: Two from our library

by ERA Architects

...Press, 2013 Gehl and Svarre work at the Danish firm Gehl Architects / Urban Quality consultants. Beginning in 1960s, Gehl was looking for a way to understand cities at the human scale, by observing people’s activities empirically rather than making assumptions about “good design.” This book presents an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the interaction of people and urban...

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ERA Presents at TCLF Second Wave of Modernism III: Leading with Landscape

by ERA Architects

...to raise public awareness of the rich diversity and interconnectedness of our shared designed landscape heritage. Detailed primary research on twenty-four landscape design practitioners and eighty-four landscapes are included within the guide. ERA would like to thank the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects task force, chaired by Brendan Stewart, assembled to work with TCLF in preparing material and coordinating leaders...

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Eglinton Crosstown moves forward

by ERA Architects

ERA has been working with the City of Toronto, Book McIlroy, planningAlliance, and Public Work, among others, on numerous objectives and design principles that will guide the design and construction of the Eglinton Crosstown transit corridor. As part of the process, the City’s Planning and Growth Management Committee has recently published and approved Eglinton Connects: Volume 2, The Plan. Next,...

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People

Lisa Prosper, ERA, and cultural landscapes

by Michael McClelland, principal

ERA Architects is thrilled to welcome Lisa Prosper as the firm’s Senior Advisor with expertise in Indigenous heritage, cultural landscapes and World Heritage. Lisa brings an Indigenous perspective to her work in cultural landscapes and cultural heritage as they intersect with planning, design, interpretation, and engagement.   Lisa’s work is informed by diverse and extensive experience working with Indigenous communities, governments,...

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