Pickering Museum Village

The Pickering Museum Village is one of Ontario’s largest community museums, featuring 19 heritage structures spread across 25 acres along Duffins Creek in the city’s east end.

Between 2023-2024, ERA, working with Tacoma Engineering and B.A. Construction, undertook the rehabilitation of two heritage buildings, which had been previously relocated to the site: the Log Barn, built in 1830 north of Kaladar in Eastern Ontario, and the Log House, also built in the 1830s in Scarborough and donated to the museum in 1959.

Following a detailed condition assessment, the interdisciplinary team applied the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada to develop a conservation strategy that balanced long-term stability with heritage sensitivity. Reclaimed foundation stones were reused, and locally sourced native softwood was used for in-kind log replacements, reducing the environmental impact of new material production and transportation. Traditional building techniques were paired with modern, climate-adaptive conservation methods to ensure durability and resilience in the face of fluctuating environmental conditions. Improved lighting and AV systems were discreetly integrated to support the museum’s curated exhibits while preserving the buildings’ historic character.

ERA’s landscape design introduced a new barrier-free path system connecting the buildings to the village’s main thoroughfare, facilitating circulation to exterior artifacts and displays. The Log Barn entrances were lowered to achieve barrier-free access and updated with AODA-compliant contemporary wood and glass doors, and the existing ramp at the Log House was replaced with a new OBC-compliant ramp.

This restoration has transformed the Log Barn and Log House into welcoming spaces for educational programs and exhibits that celebrate Ontario’s history at the Pickering Museum Village.

The project received a 2024 Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation.