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Refreshing Allan Gardens

by ERA Architects

...struggled to maintain its identity and integrity within Toronto’s rapidly evolving downtown core. The diversity of its uses sets it apart within the City’s parks system, but also imposes competing demands on its aging infrastructure. The newly released Allan Gardens Refresh, produced by the Friends of Allan Gardens (FOAG) in collaboration with the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation...

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Port Union Community Build

by ERA Architects

...Ryan Giuricich, Mitchell May, Elijah Sabadlan, and Karl Sarkis to the Trinity Bay North communities of Catalina, Little Catalina, Melrose, and Port Union. The team proposed design interventions in all four communities, and succeeded in constructing a project to completion in Port Union. The Port Union design is known as Foundation Square, and is located at the central waterfront location...

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Architecture and value

by ERA Architects

...the range of what we think of as architecture, Michael’s talk asks, What should architects do? According to him, they shouldn’t only make buildings, but conduct research, engage the public, study the world, respond to changing values, and… throw parties. To read Spacing Ottawa’s review of the talk, see Spacing online. Or, watch the video of the slide presentation below:...

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Jane Jacobs Prize to Graeme Stewart & Sabina Ali

by ERA Architects

...street in “Apartment Neighbouhoods.” It will open up important possibilities for community initiatives and small businesses. To attend a public consultation, please see our recent blog post for dates and times. The 2014 Jane Jacobs Prize was announced Tuesday March 25th on CBC Metro Morning. To hear the interview, go to Metro Morning online. The prize will be officially awarded...

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University of Toronto’s Landscape of Landmark Quality Design Competition

by ERA Architects

...29th to October 2nd, where computer terminals were provided so that viewers could easily provide feedback. If you are interested in providing your comments, the University of Toronto has created an online survey. The Evaluation Committee will then summarize public input and take it into consideration during the finalist selection process. The four proposed projects. The four teams. Photos from...

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Heritage Masonry with Dr. Gerard Lynch, May 13 to 22

by ERA Architects

...brickwork, and all manner of detail in the mason’s art. Update: We will also be joined May 20 to 22 by master mason Terry Mullarkey of J. Mullarkey & Sons Stonemasons, one of the top marble and stone masonry restoration companies in the world. These courses combine theoretical and hands-on demonstration, revealing the fascinating intricacy of brick construction past and...

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Yonge St.: development, heritage, and change

by ERA Architects

...projects. So much so, in a number of cases, that the new design can end up playing “second fiddle” to the heritage fabric. This type of development will be seen more and more along the city’s historic Yonge St., which will see big changes over the next several years. To read Dave’s article, please visit the Globe & Mail online....

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Irwin House: Floating in mid-air

by ERA Architects

...of the development, the heritage exterior will be restored while the interior will be refurbished and adapted to commercial use. The suspension of the house on its “floating raft” allows crews to excavate below while the house remains in use as the site office. This unusual feat is the result of a rare collaboration between heritage architects (us), structural engineers...

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EU Research for Tower Renewal

by ERA Architects

...key to formulating the local opportunities for Tower Renewal. Select findings from previous trips include: The National Film Board‘s HIGHRISE produced Living Proof, an online documentary which can be found below. A brief report on EU Tower precedents produced for the Province Ontario can be found here. The EU Precedent Chapter from the Tower Renewal Opportunities Book can be found...

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Toronto / Sweden: Resilient Urbanism

by ERA Architects

...achieving sustainable and resilient urbanism in northern locales. Some key lessons we’ve learned from Sweden include: look at waste as a resource (in Sweden, solid waste is used to heat and power communities); create carbon neutral neighbourhoods (Sockholm’s Hammarby Sjöstad and Malmo’s Western Harbour are built examples toward this goal as part of Sweden’s Symbio-City Initative); and design affordable housing...

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Charity Hicks’ passing

by ERA Architects

...Hicks at the Detroit-Toronto Symposium in 2013, where Ms. Hicks spoke passionately and inspiringly on social, economic, and cultural change in Detroit. A fundraising campaign is currently underway to bring Ms. Hicks back to Detroit for burial and to support her family during the immediate period of trauma. If you would like to consider contributing, donations can be made online....

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Toronto’s City Hall: An evolving icon

by ERA Architects

...building began, and how it has evolved as a central moment in the urban and civic experience of Toronto. If you are curious to learn more about City Hall and hundreds of other pieces of important modernist design in Toronto, you may enjoy ERA’s book Concrete Toronto (Coach House Books, 2007). To see the full video, please visit Monocle online....

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