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ERA Architects

Projects

Sharon Temple in autumn Sharon Temple

...which the entire community was invited. The unique architecture of Sharon Temple resists categorization, but its basic square form resembles other buildings in the Quaker tradition, and its ziggurat-like tiers were inspired by Solomon’s Temple of pre-Christian Jerusalem. Over the course of several years and stages of work, ERA worked to assess and resolve several serious issues with Sharon Temple’s...

7 St. Thomas St.

...phases. This included documentation, conservation and reconstruction drawings and specifications, design input and coordination for the retention process, protection measures, reintegration with the new structure, and contemporary components like curtain wall systems and green roof. The late 19th-century three-storey red-brick houses are excellent examples of the Romanesque Revival style. Heritage conservation work included restoring the masonry, windows, trim, dormers and...

Grosse Pointe Estate

This residence is a significant landmark in Grosse Pointe. It was designed in 1921 by renowned New York architect Alfred Hopkins and Associates and is surrounded by landscape designs by Ellen Biddle Shipman. Illustrated in Hopkins’ 1931 book, Planning for Sunshine and Fresh Air it is an excellent example of his approach to residential design. The 9,000 sq. ft. house...

The Brighthouse Farm

...outdoor Cali bar than a venue.” A fresh coat of paint and enlarged openings revitalized the exterior of the structure while allowing for greater visibility and penetration of natural light. A new elevated rear deck expands the barn’s usable outdoor space without compromising views from the public realm. The scope of interior alterations creates a functional multi-purpose venue split over...

Culture of Outports

...a community. The knowledge gained through these processes is then used to design specific interventions in the local landscape. These interventions, though modest in scale, are intended as focal points for community engagement and cultural landmarks around which new cultural activities and micro-economies can grow. Port Union, Trinity Bay North (2013) Founded in 1916, Port Union was long the headquarters...

Wild Rose Bunkie

...within an efficient 540 square feet. The interior, which is bathed in lake light and wonderful views thanks to daylighting techniques like a clerestory and walls of expansive windows, is finished with a combination of new and salvaged woods. The exterior is clad in hardy and rustic wood siding and shingles to withstand the hurricane-force winds of the location.  ...

MOCA Toronto

...Ben Rahn/A-Frame Like many buildings in Toronto’s Lower Junction neighbourhood, the Tower Automotive Building has an industrial past, functioning as an aluminum foundry and manufacturing plant, later subsumed by Tower Automotive before finally closing its doors in 2006. Once vacant, the building condition quickly began to erode. But even so, it remained a significant feature in the neighbourhood. It became...

Alma College Square

This significant and historic property is situated on the former grounds of Alma College, an important Victorian-era private girls’ school in St Thomas, Ontario. The College, although cherished by the community and its many alumnae, was closed in the 1980s and the property, along with its fine Gothic Revival building and rustic ravine amphitheatre, was sold. After years of neglect...

Centretown Heritage Inventory

...landscape’ approach to heritage documentation and inventories. Utilizing a comprehensive methodology, informed by legislative and policy frameworks, ERA provided the City with a valuable tool for informed decision-making in heritage conservation and urban planning. The project reflects ERA’s approach to the management of heritage resources in dynamic urban environments like Centretown. Past project team members also include Christie Ellis Wong....

Canadian Film Centre, Windfields

...progression of the Canadian business elite from the Victorian and Edwardian enclaves like Rosedale and Forest Hill to the estate lands beyond. The property is designated by the City of Toronto under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. ERA regularly assisted the Canadian Film Centre with building maintenance and conservation issues, including the reconstruction of the stone retaining wall....

Algonquin Great Camp

This vast lakefront site with an ensemble of historic log buildings was reconstituted as a family compound after an intervening period as a children’s camp. ERA refurbished the interior of the main lodge to highlight its expressive log construction details. The staircase’s intricately detailed log work gives the cottage a rustic, ranch-like feel, and complements the exposed log beams on...

a symmetrical photo of a fireplace with wooden paneling above and floor to ceiling windows on either side Rosedale Ravine House

Built in 1912, this Arts & Crafts Eden Smith-designed home had seen a number of renovations and alterations over the course of a century. The owners acquired the residence and proposed extensive improvements to the interior. Their goal was to enjoy the benefits of a historical home updated for contemporary living, completely redesigning the full interior and the majority of...