James Cooper Mansion

Since 2004, GBCA has been involved in the restoration and adaptive reuse of the James Cooper Mansion on Sherbourne Street in Toronto. Initially retained by the Knights of Columbus to prepare a condition report, GBCA is now the heritage consultant for the current redevelopment of this urban site by Tridel.

Designed in the then fashionable Second Empire style, this impressive 1881 mansion was once the home of James Cooper, a successful shoe manufacturer. The red brick building with patterned slate mansard roof is trimmed with the more expensive Ohio sandstone, which lent the building an air of opulence and spoke to the stature of its occupant. Inside the mansion was organized around a classic centre hall plan with formal rooms accented with rich mahogany mouldings, and a grand stair rising three floors.

Over the years the building was renovated in order to accommodate the needs of the Knights of Columbus who took possession of the house in 1910, yet much of the original architectural features (both inside and out) were retained. The Knights sold the property in 2005 and the current development includes the retention of the existing heritage building, minus the large auditorium/bingo hall addition to the rear. The James Cooper Mansion is being restored and will be reused as the amenity space for the attached condominium building.

GBCA was the consulting heritage architect on the building's relocation, which was required to accommodate the new residential tower. On September 25, 2008 the James Cooper Mansion made Canadian history as the heaviest building ever moved in its entirety. Estimated at well over 900 tonnes, the 126-year-old building was moved 20 feet to the east to make way for the excavation of the parking garage and the Mansion’s permanent foundation slab. The second move, shifting the building 5 feet to the south, took place on December 11, 2008.

To read Philip Goldsmith’s comments on the moving process, see:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/09/25/historic-1881-mansion-moved-very-slowly-to-make-room-for-condos.aspx

For video clips of the move, which was coordinated by Laurie McCullock Movers Ltd, see:
http://tridel.com/jamescoopermansion/videos.php
To see the project in progress, see:
http://tridel.com/jamescoopermansion/construction.php