Landscape & Urban Design
Spotlight
Grange Park
Grange Park, a two-hectare public open space south of the Art Gallery of Ontario, is a rare surviving example of an early 19th century former residential estate. Although the grounds have evolved considerably, the terraced, axial and irregular elliptical layout in the Picturesque-Gardenesque style retains a high level of integrity. Today the park serves as...
Victoria University in the University of Toronto
The oldest among the University of Toronto’s federated universities, Victoria University and its campus are an expression of dynamic, complex and current programmatic needs. Following ERA’s assessment of University of Toronto-owned resources across its St. George Campus in downtown Toronto, ERA was retained by Victoria University to undertake a similar assessment to guide the stewardship,...
Sony Centre
The Sony Centre (known as Meridian Hall since 2019) is a modernist concert hall built in 1959-60 and designed by Toronto architect Earle C. Morgan and Peter Dickinson of Page + Steele Architects. The property is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act by the City of Toronto. ERA was engaged to provide...
The Distillery District
The Gooderham and Worts Historic District is a National Historic Site and former home to the largest distillery in Canada. The complex is a remarkable example of an intact Victorian industrial property. Particular buildings of interest include the Stone Distillery and the Maltings. ERA is the Architect-of-Record for the overall project and Heritage Architect for...
Dundas Street West Streetscape Study
The section of Dundas Street West stretching between University Ave. and Bathurst St. is an important tourist destination and is recognized as a potential creative corridor for the City of Toronto. In 2010, the City commissioned a streetscape study for this section of the street to improve the quality of the public realm, identify distinct...
Evergreen Brick Works
Founded in 1889, the Don Valley Brick Works became one of the largest and most significant brick manufacturers in Canada, relying on locally extracted clay, shale, and sand. Many of Toronto’s landmark masonry buildings, such as Massey Hall, Old City Hall, Casa Loma, and the Royal Ontario Museum, were constructed with Don Valley’s award-winning bricks....
Victoria Memorial Square
Victoria Memorial Square is the City of Toronto’s first European cemetery. It was created in 1793/94 by Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe shortly after the establishment of the Garrison at York and the founding of the town. Simcoe’s infant daughter, Katherine, was one of the first to be buried at the cemetery which was closed...
Clarence Square Revitalization
Clarence Square is one of the oldest remaining park spaces in the downtown core of Toronto. Established with a strong relationship to Wellington Street and complementary park space Victoria Square, it was originally designed as an important feature in an exclusive area of the city. The park became a largely neglected space when the rail...
Artscape Wychwood Barns
The Artscape Wychwood Barns are located on the southwest corner of Wychwood and Benson Avenues, near St. Clair Avenue. The modular structure to house streetcars was built between 1913 and 1921 for the Toronto Civic Railway, a transportation system that played a significant role in the development of the newly annexed suburban areas in the...
City of Cambridge Heritage Master Plan
The City of Cambridge boasts a history of high quality farmland and industrial activity along its main rivers. The potential that heritage conservation offers for community revitalization and economic development is central to ERA’s work. In collaboration with BRAY Heritage, Archaeological Services Inc., Maltby & Associates Inc. and the Tourism Company, ERA devised a Heritage...
Asylum Wall at CAMH
The “Asylum Wall” borders the site of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) at 1001 Queen Street West. Originally built in 1861, the Asylum Wall completely surrounded the Toronto Asylum grounds, and is the only surviving built element of the original asylum existing on site. The Asylum Wall is designated under Part IV...
Cultural Institutions in the Public Realm Study
With the renewal of many of Toronto’s great cultural institutions, the next phase of great city building effort will focus on the public spaces that surround them. Under the direction of Mayor Miller’s “Vision 2010”, the City of Toronto, as custodian of the public realm, will be taking steps to promote the opportunities presented by...
Lyall Avenue Heritage Conservation District
Laid out as part of the historic Village of East Toronto in the 1880s, Lyall Avenue is a good example of the early development patterns that created Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods and represent Toronto’s rich urban heritage. ERA worked with Lyall Avenue residents to complete a Heritage Conservation District Plan to recognize and maintain the valued...
Parkwood Estate National Historic Site
Parkwood National Historic Site was built in 1916 as the home of the late R. S. McLaughlin, founder of General Motors Canada. The building, designed by architects Darling and Pearson, now serves as a historic house museum, with a collection that includes original furniture, paintings, and tapestries. ERA was retained to provide professional conservation services,...
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