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Stories

The Legacy Lives On: Hamiltonโ€™s Built Heritage Inventory as an emerging practice in historic urban landscape stewardship

by ERA Architects

...they inhabit could, in the future, be used by cities to identify a much broader range of conservation opportunities, better understand an area’s capacity to change and evolve, and reposition historic resources to serve as the springboard and foundation for new development….’ Article in CIP’s PLAN Canada Journal: http://www.kelmanonline.com/httpdocs/files/CIP/plancanadawinter2017/index.html Related content: https://www.eraarch.ca/2017/hamiltons-durand-built-heritage-inventory-project-incorporates-digital-innovation-to-develop-a-citywide-approach-to-heritage-planning/ https://www.eraarch.ca/project/hamilton-downtown-built-heritage-inventory/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2013/9295/ All images courtesy of ERA Architects....

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Marble Madness

by ERA Architects

...marble is available for public purchase, with a minimum order of 30 pieces. We look forward to seeing what everyone does with their new/old marble; expect coffee tables and counter-tops galore. Hopefully Toronto is soon awash in re-used Carrara marble. A few words of warning for anyone else looking to get in on the fun: the batch delivery process was...

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Can’t order those from a catalogue..

by ERA Architects

The interior of the Carlu is the wealth of small, custom details – from the lights to the central fountain to the return-air grilles. The grilles especially are miniature art-deco treasures, and demonstrate an artful way of elevating a necessary ‘building-systems’ component into an element which helps define the atmosphere of the larger space. Historic photograph of the foyer of...

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Ward Cabaret

The Ward Cabaret: The sound of Torontoโ€™s first cross-cultural community

by ERA Architects

...with songs and melodies from communities around the world intermingling and influencing one another. ERA is thrilled to be involved with such an amazing production that depicts life in one of Toronto’s first cross-cultural communities. The Ward Cabaret is running December 12-23 at the Harbourfront Centre. Get your tickets on the Harbourfront Centre’s website or find out more at wardcabaret.com....

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Publications & Exhibits

One Year of ‘The Signs That Define Toronto’ย 

by Kurt Kraler

...Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District that allow for a broader range of historic sign types. Since the launch of the publication, The Signs That Define… project continues to live online through an active Instagram page. The page features additional stories and photos that did not make it into the book while also reaching a broader online audience. Be sure...

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Casey House is Awarded the Lieutenant Governorโ€™s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation

by ERA Architects

...the facility first arose. At its heart, the redevelopment of Casey House was a community-inspired and driven initiative, with stakeholders recognizing the importance of their generous contributions. Congratulations to ERA’s project team: Michael McClelland, Edwin Rowse, Scott Weir, Jessie Grebenc, Joey Giaimo, Luke Denison, and Mikael Sydor. Related links: https://www.eraarch.ca/project/239/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2017/a-hospital-with-heart-that-embraces-its-patients-celebrates-its-grand-reopening/ https://www.eraarch.ca/2017/capitalizing-on-heritage-awarding-conservation-materials-craftsmanship-and-construction/ http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/en/index.php/media-releases/lieutenant-governors-ontario-heritage-awards-presentation โ€‹Project photos are courtesy of Vik Pahwa....

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Nothing is Impossible: NXT City defines its strategies for city-building through an inspirational presentation at ERA

by ERA Architects

...warehouse parties. In the early days, the team identified a gap in opportunities for Toronto’s current and future city-builders to assemble, in order to network, strengthen partnerships, and synergize ideas. As a result, they devised a strategy to connect various stakeholders whom they admire (Jennifer Keesmat was an early supporter), programming approachable, exciting events that draw people together to brainstorm...

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WexPOPS: Pop-up Plaza

by ERA Architects

...Kickstarter Fund, the big idea of the project is to test the viability of exchanging parking spots for community gathering space, all on private commercial property. It’s a new take on POPS — privately owned public space — experimenting with the city building potential that commercial business owners can exercise by enhancing community life in the neighbourhoods they serve, while...

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A once-popular historic Mackinac Island retreat is in the process of being restored to its former glory

by ERA Architects

...around log veranda with code-compliant replacements, and the complete re-build of the upper two storeys to match the appearance, form and materiality of the original. The project team includes: Scott Weir – Principal Brendan Stewart – Associate Sandford Riley – Project Manager Rui Felix – Landscape Designer Links to related articles: https://mynorth.com/2016/08/historic-mackinac-island-lodge-silver-birches-undergoing-renovations/ https://www.freep.com/story/travel/2016/07/09/grand-hotel-resort-hotel-mackinac/86716566/ https://savingplaces.org/stories/silver-birches-polishing-a-jewel-at-michigans-mackinac-island#.WirAvbQ-dUN Link to related blog post: https://www.eraarch.ca/2016/mission-point-resort/...

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Michael McClelland at the Getty: Toronto Towers

by ERA Architects

...different demographics that occur today. The evaluation of heritage resources has always relied on an appreciation of the resource by a community, and it is the community that gives the cultural resource its significance. The provincial criteria for establishing cultural value repeatedly emphasizes value based on its relevance to a community. But traditionally the community interested in heritage has not...

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1960s Canada: An interview with Vincent Massey Tovell

by ERA Architects

...as a modest reminder of his contribution to our understanding of culture and the built environment in Canada. ERA: The ‘6os marked a big change in Canadian culture – it is always mythologized as Canada coming into its own. What do you see as the big changes? Vincent Tovell: The ‘60s, of course, are very easy to talk about. There...

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Senate of Canada Building receives international recognition with 2020 Civic Trust Award

by ERA Architects

Photo: Doublespace Photography The Senate of Canada Building has been awarded a 2020 Civic Trust Award, the longest-running international awards program recognizing outstanding architecture, planning and design in the built environment. The award was given to Public Services and Procurement Canada, Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects on Friday, March 6 in Manchester. The Senate of Canada Building was just...

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