Heritage Projects

Where old bones get new life - our take on industrial heritage that actually matters

Look, we're not gonna pretend every old building deserves saving. But when you've got something real - a factory that powered neighborhoods, a foundry where actual craft happened - that's different. We've spent years figuring out how to keep what matters while making these spaces work for today. Sometimes that means exposing steel that's been hidden for decades. Sometimes it's about letting light back into places that forgot what windows were for.

Distillery District Malt House restoration
1889 - Restored 2021

Distillery District Malt House

Toronto, ON - Trinity Street

This one was a mess when we got it. Three floors of deteriorating timber, original malting equipment rusted solid, and everyone wanted to gut it. We didn't. Took us eighteen months but we kept the grain elevator shaft, restored the cast iron columns, and turned those massive fermentation vats into feature pieces instead of scrap metal.

The brick needed serious attention - pointed over 40,000 individual bricks by hand. Found the original limestone foundation once we cleared out a century of accumulated crud. Now it's mixed-use: ground floor artisan workshops, upper levels are studio spaces with those killer exposed beam ceilings everyone pretends they don't care about.

47,000
Sq Ft Restored
135
Years Old

Evergreen Brick Works Engine House

Toronto, ON - Don Valley

Honestly? This project changed how we think about heritage work. The Engine House powered the entire brick manufacturing operation from 1889 until the quarry shut down. When we started, the roof was gone, vegetation was taking over, and structural engineers were giving us those looks.

We stabilized the existing walls - some of those bricks were made on-site which felt kinda poetic - and designed a new steel frame roof structure that doesn't pretend to be original. You can see where old meets new. The boiler room's now an exhibition space, and we kept the coal chutes visible because they tell the story better than any plaque could.

LEED Gold
Certification
85%
Original Fabric Retained
Evergreen Brick Works Engine House
Heritage Conservation Award 2019
Port Lands Warehouse
Completed 2020

Port Lands Warehouse No. 4

1912 shipping warehouse turned creative hub. We kept the loading dock doors - they're 14 feet tall and weigh a ton each. Original crane rail system's still there, just doesn't move cargo anymore. Floor's patched concrete that shows every repair from the last century.

  • 62,000 sq ft adaptive reuse
  • Timber frame reinforcement
  • Original steel windows restored
Steel Company of Canada Building
Completed 2022

Stelco Administrative Building

This Art Deco beauty from 1931 was rotting from the inside out. Turns out the original ventilation system was actually causing moisture problems. We redesigned the whole mechanical system while keeping every bit of decorative steelwork and those incredible terrazzo floors.

  • Complete facade restoration
  • Preserved Art Deco details
  • Modern accessibility integration
John Street Roundhouse
Completed 2018

John Street Roundhouse Complex

Railway heritage meets modern use. The turntable's still operational - took forever to get it working again. Those massive wooden doors that closed off each bay? We kept 'em, rehung 'em, and they still work. Place has the right kind of wear on it now.

  • 32-bay roundhouse adaptive reuse
  • Operational turntable restoration
  • Mixed cultural/commercial use

Our Process With Heritage Work

Every building's different, which sounds obvious but you'd be surprised how many firms try the same approach everywhere. We start with the archive work - old photos, original drawings if they exist, building permits, sometimes just talking to people who worked there. Then comes the forensic stuff - paint analysis, material testing, structural investigation. Sounds boring but it's where you find out what actually happened to the building over the years.

The design part's about decisions. What stays, what goes, what needs help, what we can't save even if we wanted to. We're not trying to make museum pieces - these buildings need to earn their keep in the 21st century. That means modern systems, proper insulation, accessibility, all while respecting what makes the place special in the first place.

Historical Research

Deep archival work and material documentation before we touch anything

Structural Assessment

Honest evaluation of what's salvageable and what's wishful thinking

Adaptive Design

Making old buildings work without pretending we're living in 1890

Careful Execution

Working with craftspeople who actually understand old construction methods

Recognition & Awards

Not that we do this for the plaques, but it's nice when people notice

Lieutenant Governor's Award

Ontario Heritage Trust - Evergreen Brick Works Engine House (2019)

Heritage Toronto Award

Excellence in Industrial Heritage Conservation (2021)

National Trust Designation

Port Lands Warehouse - Exemplary Adaptive Reuse (2020)

Got a Heritage Project That Needs Real Attention?

We're always interested in buildings with good bones and better stories. Let's talk about what's actually possible before everyone gets too excited or too pessimistic.

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