Biidaasige Park: Firehall 30

Originally constructed in 1922, Fire Hall No. 30 was part of a wave of fire halls that were built in response to Toronto’s rapid growth and the development of its eastern waterfront industrial district. It is a notable example of the Edwardian Classical style that characterized the early institutional buildings along Toronto’s waterfront. Fire Hall No. 30 functioned as an active fire station until 1980 and later served the Firefighters’ Union headquarters until 2015.

To preserve its legacy as a public landmark, the building was relocated, rehabilitated, and restored as part of the broader Port Lands Flood Protection Project. Originally located at 39 Commissioners Street, the building was relocated 24 metres south to be placed as the core community facility for Biidaasige Park.

ERA provided Lead Design, Architectural, Heritage Architectural, and Heritage Planning services for the project. The team collaborated with Waterfront Toronto to obtain the necessary heritage approvals. ERA also worked closely with Landscape Architects Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA), who are the Prime Consultant for the broader Port Lands Flood Protection (PLFP) project.

ERA redesigned the building to integrate multiple new park uses, including city camps and pop-up retail. A series of new public washrooms for park users was incorporated into the building’s ground floor, directly accessed from the exterior. The two-storey interior was also adapted and renovated to provide a new layout featuring community and office spaces that support the park programming. The historic masonry exterior was repaired, and the building enclosure was renewed by replacing the failed windows and roofing. ERA provided full Architectural services from the Feasibility stage to Contract Administration.