News & Events

Health, zoning and urban design: Two new reports released

by ERA Architects

The Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal (CUG+R) has announced the release of two reports examining public health, urban policy, and neighbourhood rejuvenation in Toronto: Strong Neighbourhoods and Complete Communities: A New Approach to Zoning for Apartment Neighbourhoods, and Toward Healthy Apartment Neighbourhoods: A Healthy Toronto by Design Report In partnership with United Way Toronto and Toronto...

Kubanek’s new Montreal office

by ERA Architects

ERA is pleased to announce that Jan Kubanek’s Montreal office has moved to Complexe du Canal Lachine on Rue St. Ambroise in the Saint-Henri neighbourhood. The building was constructed in the late 1800s and was once home to the Alaska Feather and Down company and Simmons Ltd. mattress manufacturers. When Simmons closed down in 1987,...

Proposed Heritage Policies in the ‘Toronto Official Plan’ Review

by admin

As part of the current review of the Toronto Official Plan, new heritage policies have been drafted and presented to City Council for public discussion. Over the past months, we here at ERA have thoroughly reviewed the proposed municipal heritage policies. We are concerned that a great opportunity may be lost, for three key reasons: 1. The proposed policies primarily address regulatory and process issues rather than goals and objectives, 2. They don’t significantly advance us beyond the status quo, and 3. They show no sense of strategic implementation. Simply stated, why do we want to protect heritage resources? With an awareness of what we are not doing well, how can we do it better?

Ontario Place: Possible futures

by ERA Architects

Currently on show at Toronto’s Urbanspace Gallery is a compelling exhibition on Ontario Place and its future. Ontario Place was designed in the late 1960s by Eberhard Zeidler and launched in 1971 as a spectacular architectural innovation that attempted to rethink our relationship to the lake. Earlier this year the Government of Ontario announced that...

Construction and river valley tour, East Scarborough

by ERA Architects

Photos: Holly Pagnacco Progress on the East Scarborough Storefront’s (ESS) soon-to-be grapevine pergola is running on time. We have just completed some 50 trellis modules which will form the roof structure for the grapevines to grow on. The youth spent weeks building these modules and have become confident measuring and cutting wood, along with many...

Trees in Public Space: ERA’s Brendan Stewart Speaks

by admin

International Influences: Inspiring Ideas for Trees in Public Space, August 16, 2012, 7pm, Metro Hall, Toronto Presented in collaboration with LEAF and Park People, Brendan’s talk discussed the rich aesthetic traditions and histories of planting trees in gardens, parks, and urban open spaces. Through images of beautiful and inspirational designed landscapes from around the world,...

Certificate of Merit for Urban Design Plans

by admin

We are pleased to announce that the Toronto Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study has been awarded a 2012 National Urban Design Certificate of Merit. This study, conducted for the City of Toronto, was led by Brook McIlroy and included significant contributions from Quadrangle Architects, the Urban Marketing Collaborative, and ERA Architects. The document identifies policy-based...

Detroit’s new “Creative Ventures” announced

by ERA Architects

Recently the Detroit Creative Corridor Center (DC3) announced the 2012/13 round of its Creative Ventures project. DC3, a partnership between Business Leaders for Michigan and the College for Creative Studies, seeks to enhance the collective potential of Detroit’s creative community and grow its creative economy. This kind of initiative is key to the increasing role...

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,...

United Way AGM: Graeme Stewart’s Keynote Address

by admin

On Thursday, June 21, ERA’s Graeme Stewart addressed United Way’s AGM as keynote speaker. In 2010, ERA and CUG+R published Tower Neighbourhood Renewal in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, which looks at a broad range of historical trends, planning issues, sustainability concerns, social needs, and opportunity for renewal in and around Toronto’s tower block neighbourhoods. In...

Brickwork course w/ Gerard Lynch: postponed

by admin

Postponed until October, we apologize for the inconvenience… Masons, heritage professionals, architects, historians, and all interested parties are invited to join us for a series of very special courses in brickwork. Learn from scholar and master mason Gerard Lynch about traditional limes and mortars, traditional binders, historical forms of pointing and jointing, causes of failure...

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....

ERA opens its doors

by ERA Architects

Last Saturday ERA Architects participated in a Doors Open tour organized by Toronto Society of Architects. Doors Open is an annual opportunity for the public to visit places and spaces of historic, cultural, or architectural interest. This year ERA opened its doors and was very pleased to host a wide range of interested visitors, from...

Evergreen Brickworks film wins Hotdocs award

by ERA Architects

Crowd the Schoolhouse, a short film inspired by the evolution and regeneration of the Evergreen Brickworks site (a project in ERA’s portfolio), recently received two awards at the International Documentary Challenge. Each film must be 5 minutes long, filmed within the same five days at the beginning of March, and based on the theme of “cycles.” The entry...

Doors Open at ERA: Sat. May 26, 2012

by admin

Doors Open Toronto is an annual event that celebrates the city and its rich history of architecture and urban design, providing access to buildings that are otherwise inaccessible. This year, ERA Architects is excited to be taking part in the Architect’s Studiotour organized by the Toronto Society of Architects. We would be pleased if you’d...

Jane’s Walk on Jarvis St.

by ERA Architects

On Sunday May 6th, ERA principal Michael McClelland joined Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam and 75 interested participants on a Jane’s Walk in Toronto’s downtown east. Named for legendary urbanist and author Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walks occur all over the world in the name of promoting urban literacy and community involvement in local urban environments....

Jane’s Walk in Old York

by ERA Architects

On Saturday May 5th, ERA principal Michael McClelland joined Ken and Eti Greenberg to take a group of 65 participants on a Jane’s Walk in the heart of Toronto. Named for legendary urbanist Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walks occur all over the world in the name of promoting urban literacy and the involvement of community in...

Allan Gardens: a new public space design competition

by Graeme Stewart

E.R.A. Architects is pleased to announce its participation in Friends of Allan Gardens (FOAG), a group of neighbours and citizens concerned with actively promoting the vitality of Allan Gardens park. This volunteer group’s mission is to revitalize the park through creative strategies that will improve open spaces, nurture local culture and attract a larger and...

OCAD 2012 Sustainable Design Awards

by Graeme Stewart

ERA is a proud sponsor and juror for the 2012 Sustainable Design awards. Initiated by students at OCAD and Sustainable.to, the awards celebrate student work throughout OCAD’s many faculties. In its second year off the ground, the awards have grown, with ambitions to go National in 2013. Congratulations to the winners and the students who...

Miles Glendinning Lecture, May 3rd, 2012

by admin

ERA Architects and the Toronto Society of Architects present the 2012 Modern Heritage Visiting Lecture, Miles Glendinning: The Hundred Years War: A Century of Mass Housing ‘Campaigns’ Across the World. Join us May 3rd at the Art and Letters Club at 6:00pm for cocktails and lecture at 6:30. For more information and to RSVP, click...

ERA to Revitalize Historic Yonge Street Landmark

by admin

The former Canadian Bank of Commerce building at 197 Yonge Street, since abandoned for 25 years, is set to become the focus of a major redevelopment effort led by MOD Developments in collaboration with ERA. Redevelopment will see the restoration and integration of the existing stone edifice at the foot of a new mixed-use tower...

Metro Morning on Tower Renewal

by admin

Matt Galloway with Priti from the NBF’s HIGHRISE, Image Courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada This week CBC’s Metro Morning is taking to the Kipling strip north of Finch to talk tower renewal, in an area of aging concrete towers that were typical all across Toronto during the early 1950s and ’60s. On...

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...