Office Culture

Diving Into the ERA Library—Part 1

by ERA Architects

Having access to unique and highly specific books about neighbourhoods, cities, and architecture is a vital aspect of the culture of ERA. Periodically, we will pull books off the shelves of ERA’s library to reveal some of the charming and forgotten publications that shed light on local history. Truth & Reconciliation: Calls to Action ...

News & Events

Three New Principals and Expanding Leadership at ERA

by ERA Architects

ERA Architects is proud to announce our firm’s three new principals and the latest staff promotions and hirings. ERA is committed to connecting heritage to wider considerations of urban design and city building, while providing our staff with opportunities to grow their professional careers. PRINCIPALS We’re proud to announce Victoria Angel (Ottawa), Jan Kubanek (Montreal),...

Celebrating ERA’s 30th anniversary

by ERA Architects

On May 1st, ERA is marking 30 years of heritage conservation, community building, and catalyzing change both in urban and rural settings. While we may not be able to celebrate together physically this year, we thought we’d take a virtual walk down memory lane to mark some of the themes behind our projects that have...

Our Growing Leadership Team

by ERA Architects

As ERA continues to grow and evolve, the Executives and Associates are very pleased to welcome Sydney Martin to the leadership team as our newest Associate. Sydney has been with ERA for nearly a decade as a heritage conservation specialist whose expertise in architectural history, historic construction techniques and materials, and material repair has been...

ERA Has Moved to 625 Church Street

by ERA Architects

For two decades, we have called 10 St Mary Street our home, an eight storey modernist office building (1957) designed by the architects Mathers and Haldenby, whose offices were located on the 8th floor of the building. It seems fitting today as we say goodbye and start a new chapter in ERA’s story, that we’d...

ERA Steps Back in Time

by ERA Architects

As architects (and appreciators of all things historic) an office discussion regarding family heirlooms of tools, appliances, and other cool items (that predate most of our staff) has resulted in this great photo collection of household artifacts. Brendan Stewart has a block and tackle handed down from his great grandfather.. …and a rocking chair...

Congratulations to our new Associates and Principal

by ERA Architects

In recognition of their professional achievements, ERA Architects is excited to announce the appointment of five of our staff to the position of Associate. In addition, our current Associate Graeme Stewart has been appointed the position of Principal. Each individual has contributed to our core values of city building engagement, heritage architecture conservation, and democratic community...

Job Shadowing: Architectural Conservancy of Ontario

by Shannon Clayton

ERA recently participated in the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario’s Second Annual Job Shadow Program, organized by the ACO’s NextGen group. Megan Rolph, Golsa Kheirmoghadam, Josie Harrington, and Amy Calder shadowed various members of the ERA team, attended meetings, visited job sites, studied current projects, and took part in our end-of-week office social. Special thanks to...

ERA BBQ, 2013

by ERA Architects

We smoked cigars, blew bubbles, told humourous anecdotes, ate, drank, chased after obstreperous children, and mopped our brows in thirty-plus weather. On the menu this year: hara bhara kebabs (“full-of-green” kebabs), “new age” watermelon salad, and several competing varieties of gourmet potato salad. For dessert: Greek honey balls, Newfoundland blueberry puff, Trinidadian rum cake, and...

ERA in Buffalo

by ERA Architects

Recently, ERAers Alana Young and Josh Thorpe took trips to investigate the fascinating city of Buffalo, New York. Less than two hours from Toronto by car, Buffalo is a city of major historical significance to the region and has some stunning work in planning and architecture. Buffalo City Hall (1932), a prominent feature in the...

Silo 5 in Old Montreal

by ERA Architects

This summer and fall, as part of Heritage Montreal’s Architectours program, ERA’s Jan Kubanek presented four walking tours of Silo 5, a monumental grain elevator complex at the mouth of the Lachine Canal in Old Montreal. The Silo 5 complex encompasses three separate buildings: Elevator B, dating to 1906 and built of steel plates; the...

Toronto to Detroit

by ERA Architects

Selection of photos by Lara Herald, Scott Weir, Alana Young, Sydney Martin, Graeme Stewart, Jordan Molnar, Julie Tyndorf, Alec Ring, and Brent Wagler. Recently a large group of us here at ERA spent a weekend exploring the amazing city of Detroit, Michigan. Founded in 1701, Detroit became a huge industrial and economic engine from the...

Rum Cake: An ERA bake-off report

by ERA Architects

Like architecture offices around the globe, ERA Architects occasionally indulges in a bake-off. In these highly competitive events, contestants’ work is assessed and ranked by blind ballot, and the winner is proffered the prestigious Golden Whisk (pictured above, bottom right). Recently, Douglas de Gannes challenged former bake-off champion Sydney Martin to best him and his...

OCAD U visits ERA

by ERA Architects

Recently, Toronto urbanist and OCAD U instructor Shawn Micalleff brought his “Cities for People” students to attend a presentation by ERA’s Graeme Stewart. Following some local history and international context, Graeme explained ERA’s position on Tower Renewal, a project we’ve been working on with United Way and the City of Toronto. Using a combination of imagination,...

A successful Toronto the Good, 2012

by ERA Architects

On Thursday, June 7th, we got together with Torontonians at Fort York to reflect on the city and toast its built and cultural environments, past and future. Close to 1000 guests joined us in enjoying great food, drink, dancing, and stimulating discussion about the place we live. Thank you very much, all who attended –...

We’re celebrating: June 7th at Fort York

by admin

When: Thursday, June 7th, 6:30–11pm; Where: Fort York, Toronto; How much: Free Entry, Cash Bar Each year we get together with Toronto Society of Architects, Spacing Magazine, and other partners to hold our Toronto the Good event, a chance to mingle, chat, and compare notes about what has been and what will come to be....

Carrot Cake Bake Off

by Graeme Stewart

Another delicious bake-off was held in the ERA office last week. This time the challenge was laid down by newcomer to the office Julie Tyndorf, to three time winner Sydney Martin. There was added scandal when an anonymous entry mysteriously appeared on the table. Who won? Miss Martin took the trophy once again to become...

ERA Excited to be in Montreal!

by admin

ERA is pleased to announce that associate Jan Kubanek has relocated back to Montreal and has established a practice in Quebec, creating the collaboration of ERA+KUBANEK Architectes. Prior to joining the ERA team in 2006, Jan lived in Montreal where he worked in architectural and construction settings, so he’s excited to be back home and...

ERA EXCITED ABOUT MONTRÉAL

by admin

ERA is pleased to announce that associate Jan Kubanek has relocated back to Montreal and has established Kubanek Architecte, enabling the potential collaboration of ERA and Kubanek Architecte for projects located in Quebec. Prior to joining the ERA team in 2006, Jan lived in Montreal where he worked in architectural and construction settings, so he’s...

Four awards for ERA at CAHP Awards ceremony

by admin

ERA were the recipient of four awards at this year’s Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals award ceremony in Victoria. Joey took the trip out west to receive the awards on behalf of the office. The awards are as follows; Preservation of a heritage building, award of merit Sharon Temple Craftsmanship award of merit Allenby Theatre...

Alana, NOW

by ERA Architects

Alana was featured in NOW Magazine this week, in the special career insert. She discussed her training, why she is excited to be working with ERA, and what it’s like to study and practice architecture in what is still a largely male dominated industry. *photograph from NOW Magazine

60MM

by ERA Architects

Michael celebrated his 60th birthday at the Carlu last night, with a great party and in high style. ERA assisted with the restoration of the heritage elements of the Carlu, and was awarded the Architectural Excellence by Ontario Association of Architects. Michael was surprised by a cake that replicated Sharon Temple, one of his favourite...

Kipling Community Build

by ERA Architects

In July, ERA got into the building spirit as part of the Tower Renewal project at the Kipling Towers in North Etobicoke. Kipling Towers is one of the City’s great apartment neighbourhoods, with a cluster of nineteen towers perched along the western bank of the Humber River. Previous posts with more information about the neighbourhood...

On the grill

by ERA Architects

ERA celebrated the summer season with grilled food and cold drinks at the firm’s annual BBQ yesterday. Once again Andrew generously provided his back yard for the festivities, which always seem to take place on the hottest day of the summer. All the new ERA-babies made for a really wonderful family atmosphere this year. More...

Solstice at the Brickworks

by ERA Architects

DSAI held their annual Solstice party at the Evergreen Brickworks last night. The weather on the longest day of the year was beautiful, and the venue was perfect. The party gets bonus points for a Jeanne Beker appearance.