Ontario Construction News staff writer
Nominees have been announced for the 47th Annual Heritage Toronto Awards to be presented on Oct. 17 at The Carlu. This event is Heritage Toronto’s major fundraiser and ticket information is available at heritagetoronto.org.
The Built Heritage Award recognizes building owners who have undertaken projects to conserve or adapt a historic property or architectural feature, and the excellence in conservation practice and craftsmanship performed by the project teams.
The 2022 Built Heritage category comprises three awards:
- Adaptive Reuse, which recognizes projects that meet current needs while maintaining the integrity of the original design vision.
- Heritage Planning & Architecture, which recognizes the successful application of appropriate conservation and planning principles.
- Crafts and Trades, which recognizes high levels of craftsmanship, specifically the use of appropriate construction techniques and materials that are compatible to the building’s original architectural qualities.
The six nominees are:
The Oculus – 85 Stephen Dr, Etobicoke
- The revitalization of the Oculus included a light restoration, bringing the exterior back to its original designed condition. While restoration was a key part of the project, ensuring that the space is welcoming, inclusive, and functional was just as important.
Waterworks – 505 Richmond St W, Toronto
- The adaptive reuse of the Waterworks includes the full retention and reuse of the machine shop building as a food hall and the retention of the northern portion of the complex to accommodate a mix of uses. The new compatible construction features retail at grade, a full-service YMCA athletic facility on the second and third floors and a residential addition above.
Massey Hall – 178 Victoria St, Toronto
- The renovation and expansion project was a multi-year project to modernize the iconic heritage building that both honours its 127-year history while also providing the city with a state-of-the-art performance venue.
Legislative Assembly of Ontario – 111 Wellesley St W, Toronto, ON M7A 1A5, Canada
- This project provided the opportunity to build a new welcome centre within the context of a significant public heritage building and grounds in the province.
Sunday School Lofts – 14 Dewhurst Blvd, Toronto
- The Sunday School Lofts project involved façade restoration and conservation of a historic church integrated into a new condo development. The result is a development that provides increased density in a residential neighbourhood, while still telling the 100-year history of the site.
The Toronto Club, 107 Wellington St W, Toronto
- Influenced by Italian Renaissance palazzi, the original 1889 Toronto Club building was designed by architect Frank Darling. The essence of the project was to stabilize the walls and cornice, improve roof drainage and restore lost details of ironwork, and re-establish the original modest polychromy of the building.
Three awards will be presented in this category, including the Crafts & Trades Award presented by Heather & Little Ltd.
“Recent experiences have emphasized the importance of conversation and representation, challenging us to consider who participates, who creates and who is recognized in the heritage field,” Heritage Toronto said in a news release. “This year, we are pleased to profile a diverse slate of nominees and their extraordinary contributions to Toronto’s heritage in three categories: Public History, Book, and Built Heritage.”