556 Yonge St

The property at 556 Yonge, within the boundary of the Historic Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District (HYHCD), was left vacant after a building fire in 2018. The proposed replacement building had to comply with the HYHCD’s design guidelines to ensure a compatible relationship with the existing context.

Working in an advisory role, ERA was engaged to guide the design of the principal elevation and liaise with Municipal Heritage Staff. Through archival research, analysis of the urban character, and heritage best practice, ERA developed a design that was compatible and sympathetic to the context. The proposed elevation aligned with horizontal datum lines from neighbouring historic buildings, referenced the size and scale of punched window openings, and matched the masonry construction and detailing seen along Yonge Street.

This project is a stunning example of urban infill that successfully balances modern commercial needs, contemporary design, and historic built fabric.