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ERA Architects

Projects

Chiefswood Museum

Built in 1853, Chiefswood was the childhood home of E. Pauline Johnson, renowned Canadian poet and performer. A National Historic Site, ERA provided full architectural services for the phased restoration of the interior and exterior of the house and the reconstruction of the wood-clad kitchen wing, in accordance with a conservation plan developed with Parks Canada. An interpretive program for...

Hudson Valley House

This stately 1850’s farmhouse in New York’s Hudson Valley was fully restored and updated in 2021. ERA worked closely with the owners to design a contemporary addition to the historic house, while ensuring that the architectural prominence of the original was preserved. The addition is connected by a glazed link, allowing views to penetrate through to the bucolic landscape beyond...

St. James’ Cathedral Centre

St. James’ Parish House, as it was originally known, is an important piece of the St. James’ Cathedral campus, one of the defining historical properties of Toronto’s old town. The Parish House, completed in 1909, was designed by well-known Toronto architects Darling and Pearson, and is an excellent example of Neo-Gothic style. The Diocesan Centre, adjoined to the east, was...

Stanley Barracks

...reuse of the Stanley Barracks building, the excavation and conservation of the East Enlisted Men’s Barracks foundations and the erection of a steel frame with artwork panels over the foundations to represent the form of the original building. The foundations and interpretive steel frame structure were incorporated into the design for the principle entrance to the new Hotel X complex....

Royal Ontario Museum

...in a fine building that displays the regional development of early 20th century Romanesque style, as well as bold modern interventions. ERA was retained as the heritage consultant for the ROM Renaissance renovation. This work involves historical studies, municipal approvals, exterior masonry and window restoration, detailing connections between old and new building fabric, and the restoration of original interior spaces....

Paradise Theatre

...sign and marquee. The reconstruction work was based on ERA’s careful analysis of historic photos and research into comparable theatre signs from the era. The project team also reconstructed the historic stainless-steel box office and entrance doors after the originals were removed during previous alterations to the building. The reinstatement of these key Art Deco attributes, which were not specified...

Sharon Temple in autumn Sharon Temple

...condition: Large cracks in the foundation were forming, the timber frame was under stress, the floors were sloping severely, and two exterior walls were dramatically bowed. Since the building is such a masterful and historically unique form, our challenge was to stabilize it structurally while retaining a maximum of the building’s original materials and construction methods. The result was a...

The McGill New Vic Project

...a place to advance the knowledge of medical sciences and to train nurses. Over its 130-year history, several buildings were added to the original pavilions, reflecting the evolution of medicine throughout the 20th century. Because of its location, architecture, and history, the complex is recognized by several statutes including being one of the major buildings located in the Mount Royal...

St. Lawrence Hall

...was extensively restored and renovated to commemorate the Canadian Centennial. The 1967 restoration replaced most of the original interior fabric of the building with new material and few records were retained of the restoration process. ERA was asked by Heritage Toronto to review these interior renovations and to propose alterations to improve the use of the space in the Hall....

Chapters – Runnymede Theatre

...building remained a cinema until its conversion into a Chapters bookstore in 1998. A designated heritage property, ERA provided architectural heritage consulting to preserve, maintain and restore the theatre as part of the retail conversion. Original colours and materials were restored and efforts were made to preserve the raked floors to maintain the possibility of restoration of the cinema function....

The Kwong Centre for Mental Health & Wellness

In 2010, ERA was retained by ARK Inc. as Heritage Consultant for the adaptive reuse and integration of the Thomas Wilson House (1889–1890) into a modern-day facility for mental health and wellness. The conservation approach included the retention and restoration of the original portion of the Thomas Wilson House, and the removal and replacement of the rear addition with a...

exterior view of new addition to NAC National Arts Centre

...of the complex. To align the geometry of the original architecture with the contemporary addition, a marquee tower was designed to mark the new entrance, revitalizing the NAC’s presence along Elgin Street. ERA served as Heritage Conservation Advisor for Diamond Schmitt Architects on the project, developing a Heritage Conservation Approach report that outlined the architectural, historical, and cultural significance of...