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Ideas & Issues

Diving Into the ERA Libraryβ€”Part 1Β 

by ERA Architects

...Arlene Chan lays out a comprehensive account of the local Chinese Canadian community’s history with insight from early residents, news clippings, and personal archival records.  ERA has worked with Arlene in the past on The Ward anthology books and she is currently working on an essay about signage in Chinatown for another ERA publishing venture.   LINK: https://www.dundurn.com/books_/t22117/a9781554889792-the-chinese-in-toronto-from-1878  Hurricane Hazel, by...

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Micallef: Canada’s identity, modernist architecture

by ERA Architects

...our residences, universities, schools, malls, factories, and corporate headquarters, Canada is a nation stitched together with modernist fabric. Every urban area, it seems, has its share of brutalist concrete slab towers, curtain-glass minimalist icons, geodesic domes, and long elegant bungalows with exaggerated eaves. Though we might call out a small number of masterpieces as worthy of our attention, Canada in...

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Tower Renewal Partnership: revitalizing communities through research, advocacy, and action

by ERA Architects

...Public Health, United Way Toronto and York Region, the Government of Ontario, Evergreen, Toronto Atmospheric Fund, Metcalf Foundation, Atkinson Foundation and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. Our technical project partners include NBLC and Transsolar KlimaEngineering. To learn more about our work visit: www.towerrenewal.com. For more information contact: Graeme Stewart Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal [email protected] Hadley Nelles Maytree hnelles@maytree.com...

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ACO NextGen presents the possibility of a new take on an historic building

by ERA Architects

...the building as a landmark destination for both heritage architectural lovers and community dwellers alike abound. As Scott is quoted as saying, ‘Now is the perfect time to start dreaming….’ Link to Toronto Star article: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/09/bay-dundas-bus-terminal-looks-to-recapture-its-sense-of-grandeur.html Link to NOW magazine article: https://nowtoronto.com/news/toronto-coach-terminal-could-use-some-inspired-ideas/ Photo of original Bus Coach Terminal interior courtesy of City of Toronto Archives. Photos of current Bus Coach...

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Canada Hair Cloth

by ERA Architects

ERA is currently working with DSAI to convert the former Canada Hair Cloth factory in St. Catharines, ON, into Brock University’s new school for the performing arts. We’ve been down to site a few times to survey the conditions of the existing buildings – the oldest of which dates to 1888 – in order to cost and direct the restoration...

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Ideas & Issues

Three lessons from Europe’s independent cultural spaces

by Daniel Rotsztain, artist in residence

...cultural space  As mentioned above, the sheer complexity of transforming the Canada Malting Silos has left it towering over Toronto’s central waterfront, blank and unactivated: an opportunity presented by a challenge. Though not part of their network, TEH connected us with Jos Van Eldonk, an architect with Common Affairs who transformed the Suikerfabriek – a former Sugar silo in Halfweg,...

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Passive House Statistics

ERA at Passive House Canada Conference

by ERA Architects

...heating and cooling loads. The Ken Soble Tower Transformation will: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% Reduce energy intensity by 70% Reduce resource consumption through a 45% reduction in utility costs Improve indoor air quality for resident health and comfort Extend the life of the building and its systems for another generation The 2018 Passive House Canada Conference in Vancouver...

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News & Events

ERA leads the conversation of digital transformation at the Beijing Urban and Architecture Biennale

by ERA Architects

...Urban Renewal: BIM and Adaptive Reuse online forum organized by the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design. Curated and hosted by two architects in New York and in Beijing, the 3 hour, highly condensed international panel discussion brought over 1100 international online participants to investigate the relationship between BIM and adaptive reuse projects. Six internationally renowned architectural practices from four different...

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collage of award-winning projects

2021: Honours & Awards at ERA

by ERA Architects

...restoration, and craftmanship, to adaptive reuse projects, urban design and planning, to landscape design and advocacy. University of Toronto: University College ACO Awards Peter Stokes Restoration Award: Large-Scale/Team/Corporate Canadian Interiors Best of Canada: Institutional The University College Revitalization project updates the building to respond to the demands of 21st century academia, renewing its facilities to expand its use and create...

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Planting for an elevated bioswale in Scarborough

by ERA Architects

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD6PF5UUGoY On a recent pleasant day in June, ERA joined green roof expert Atom Cianfarani and a group of community youth to plant a nursery in preparation for the future construction of an unusual green-roof shade structure at the East Scarborough Storefront. Over the past year, we have been working with the Storefront, Sustainable.TO, ArchiTEXT, various volunteers, and youth participants...

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Hamiltonβ€˜s Durand Built Heritage Inventory project paper has been published by the ISPRS

by ERA Architects

...and Angela Garvey have written a paper on the project’s digital workflow, which they presented at the CIPA International Biennial Symposium in Ottawa this fall. The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing has recently published their paper. Link to Hamilton City Council recommendations: https://www.hamilton.ca/city-planning/heritage-properties/hamilton-built-heritage-inventory-process Link to CIPA International Biennial Symposium: http://www.cipaottawa.org/ For access to the published paper, click here....

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Proposed Heritage Policies in the ‘Toronto Official Plan’ Review

by admin

...The Official Plan heritage policies are available for review on the City website, at: www.toronto.ca/opreview/pdf/opreview_proposed_heritage_policy.pdf Linked below, we respectfully submit comments on the current proposed policies, and a draft counter-proposal – a goals-based policy document that can significantly improve the delivery of heritage services in the City of Toronto. www.era.on.ca/pdf/ERA_OP_heritage_policy_comments.pdf The key authors of this draft include Michael McClelland (Principal...

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