St Michael’s College

In 2007, the University of St. Michael’s College, at the University of Toronto, retained GBCA as architect to bring two historic campus buildings up to modern standards, while restoring some of the unique heritage features.

Located on Elmsley Place, these two turn-of-the-century, semi-detached houses (the McCorkell-Sullivan House and the Gilson-Maritain House) were part of an early, speculative “subdivision”—described at the time as a residential enclave in a park-like setting. Within close proximity to the then recently completed Ontario Legislative Buildings at Queen’s Park, these houses were designed with image in mind, and, over the years, have been the occupied by prominent members of society, for example, the McCorkell-Sullivan House was once the home of Sir John A. MacDonald. During the 1930s and 1940s, the University of St. Michael’s College acquired the houses and used them variously for students’ residences and faculty offices. One notable faculty office was that of Marshall McLuhan who taught at USMC for many years and one notable student occupant was the former Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin.

GBCA oversaw the design, interior renovation and exterior restoration of the buildings. The exterior work at both buildings included new roofing, restoration of severely damaged eaves, extensive stone and brick masonry repointing, repairs and cleaning and the reconstruction of the heritage porches. Select heritage interior spaces and features were preserved, including the original entrance halls, decorative plasterwork, wood paneling, baseboards and trims. The interior stairs of one house were rebuilt in the same footprint to provide two exits via interwoven scissor stairs. At the second residence the original heritage stairs were reinforced, extended and enclosed to create the exits required by code. Building system renewal included new fire and acoustic separations between floors and rooms, replacement of almost all windows and doors, structural upgrading as well as all new plumbing, heating, ventilation, cooling, electrical, data and sprinkler systems.

A combination of room layout revisions and the finishing and partial lowering of the existing basements has resulted in a 36% increase in the number of students that can now be accommodated (from 47 to 64). GBCA completed the project for occupancy as the students returned in Fall 2008.