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ERA Architects

Projects

Art Gallery of Ontario

...West, a composed collage of architectural styles and talent representative of Toronto’s growth and evolution since 1818. It is a part of a cultural community that includes Grange Park, the Ontario College of Art (OCAD) and many local art galleries. ERA worked with Frank Gehry Architects as the Heritage Consultant for the 2002-2009 renovations and expansion of the gallery. http://www.ago.net/...

Wateridge Village / Village des Riverains: Commemoration Program

...The Program is grounded in story collection and research which generated an understanding of the lands as experienced by Algonquin, military, and francophone communities over time. The personal and ancestral stories of these communities are summarized in the document to inspire and inform commemoration strategies as well as the ongoing reconnection between Algonquin peoples and the oral traditions, including stories...

The RAC Zone

...not have been possible without this diverse group of collaborators and stakeholders working together. It is a testament to what is possible through collaboration, and perhaps the start of new way for social agencies, local communities, architects, and the City to work together towards a brighter Toronto. To learn more about the RAC zone, visit www.raczone.ca and www.towerrenewal.com    ...

The Distillery District

...a change of use permit for transitioning the facility from its exiting retail designation to a mixed-use facility with both retail and industrial programming. Client: Cityscape Development Corporation & Dundee Realty Photo credits: Kayla Rocca and Arthur Mola ERA’s Michael McClelland has written about the adaptive reuse strategy of the Distillery District in Canadian Architect and Heritage Magazine. http://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/ http://www.distilleryheritage.com/...

View of the Commons area with new landscaping Evergreen Brick Works

...a large park. This collaborative project elucidates the deep relationships between heritage conservation and sustainability, an increasingly important dimension of ERA’s practice. ERA’s ongoing stewardship of the Brick Works site includes: A master plan, produced in collaboration with Evergreen and architectsAlliance, creating a framework philosophy of “light touch” and “loose fit”. This framework conserved the heritage fabric as “embodied energy”...

Halton Hills Cultural Heritage Strategy

...into the management of a range of municipal portfolios, from planning to economic development to climate change resiliency. The Strategy was developed over two phases: an information-gathering phase resulting in an Existing Conditions Report (December 2021), and a Strategy development phase resulting in the final Halton Hills Cultural Heritage Strategy. Both phases involved substantial engagement with local stakeholders, including a...

Our Yukon Heritage Reserves: Management Priorities Report

...the three sites that offered the highest relative significance and highest potential. A range of additional recommendations were offered for the sites with lesser combinations of potential and significance. The recommendations were organized around site strategies including: adaptive reuse for revenue generation; adaptive reuse for recreation; (adaptive) reuse for interpretation or public art; restoration / stabilization; and network-wide signage or...

Concrete Toronto Map

...the City and surrounding suburbs to this day. Pinpointed projects stretch across the Greater Toronto Area– from Etobicoke to Scarborough. In partnership with Blue Crow Media, and with original photography by Jason Woods, the Concrete Toronto Map joins a family of international city guide maps which feature distinct local architecture. Concrete Toronto Map is available online and through independent stores....

One Millionth Tower

...global vertical suburbs, under the direction of documentary-maker Katerina Cizek. The project uses the acclaimed interventionist and participatory approaches of the award-winning National Film Board of Canada’s Filmmaker-in-Residence (FIR) project: The scale is global, but rooted firmly in the FIR philosophy — putting people, process, creativity, collaboration, and innovation first. While a previous incarnation of the HIGHRISE project, the THOUSANDth...

Market Square Heritage Conservation District Plan Update

...and attributes of each building in the District. New design guidelines were developed that built upon the Lily Inglis and Harold Kalman Study, and also addressed current issues in the District. The updated by-law for this District was passed by Council and has passed its appeal date. To view the document, please see the pdf online at City of Kingston....

Sheguiandah First Nation Community Court

...the NBA and the Toronto Raptors. https://www.eraarch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2.mp4   Through ERA’s unique collaborative design approach, ERA worked with local youth leaders to develop a court design that meets the needs of the community while reflecting the values and unique identity of the Sheguiandah First Nation. This included assisting the community through an artist selection process that brought Anishinaabe artist Emily Kewageshing...

Stories

People

50th anniversary oral history of Robarts Library features Michael McClelland   

by Alessandro Tersigni

Spacing recently published an oral history reflecting on the five-decade life of one of Canada’s most recognizable Brutalist buildings: the University of Toronto’s Robarts Library. It features commentary by ERA’s Michael McClelland as well as Carole Moore (University of Toronto Chief Librarian, 1986-2011), Gary McCluskie (Diamond Schmitt), and writer Shawn Micallef. The piece explores Robarts Library’s design antecedents, materiality, and scale—it was the world’s largest academic library when...

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