September 2021

GBCA is pleased to be recognized by our peers at the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals with two awards.

The Award of Excellence in the category of Conservation – Architecture was presented to Christopher Borgal (GBCA Architects) and Jason Grossi (studio g+G inc., architect) for the project “John Muir Branch – Windsor Public Library” (Windsor, ON).

An Award of Merit in the category of Conservation – Small & Lovely was presented to Emad Ghattas and Christopher Borgal (GBCA Architects), Donovan Pauly and Sam Trigila (Clifford Restoration) and Monique Palma Whittaker (MPW Art Restoration) for the project “Silver Dollar Room” (Toronto, ON).

Read the related article in Canadian Architect.

NOW Magazine has provided a look inside the former Silver Dollar Room – you can check out the photographs on their website.

GBCA has been the heritage consultant on this project, ensuring that the key character-defining features were salvaged and reused in the new space. Senior Associate, Emad Ghattas, will be presenting a paper on the project at this year’s upcoming (virtual) Heritage Canada conference. For more information on the conference, go to the Heritage Canada website.

In 2015, GBCA prepared a Heritage Impact Assessment for the proposed CF Toronto Eaton Centre Bridge. Providing access between the Eaton Centre and the historic former Simpson’s Department Store Building (now the Hudson’s Bay Company Store), the new bridge had to appropriately address the heritage significance of this important building.

The stunning bridge was designed by Zeidler Architecture in association with Wilkinson Eyre and was recognized with the Award of Excellence in the Elements category in the 2021 Toronto Urban Design Awards. According to the jury: instead of a utilitarian structure connecting busy commercial zones, this structure captured the public’s imagination by achieving a sense of tactile and visual dynamism that enhanced the existing architecture.

Congratulations to the entire team and the owner, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited.

To read more about this year’s awards, go to the City of Toronto website.

The redevelopment of Montcrest School on Broadview Avenue has won the Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence in the Private Buildings in Context Category for 2021.

Montcrest School occupies a collection of Queen Anne revival homes in Toronto’s Riverdale community. A new infill volume was designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects to improve the functionality of the school while preserving the heritage of the house forms that have become synonymous with the school’s identity along Broadview Avenue.

GBCA prepared a Heritage Impact Assessment, developing a conservation strategy that would allow for the modernization of the school space both inside and outside while conserving the heritage fabric of these early twentieth century buildings. Subsequently a Conservation Plan was developed for the buildings. GBCA also assisted with heritage approvals with the City of Toronto.

To read more about this year’s awards, go to the City website.

Some of GBCA’s recent projects are among those nominated for this year’s Urban Design Awards.

In the category of “Elements,” the new CF Toronto Eaton Centre Bridge is nominated. For this project GBCA prepared a Heritage Impact Assessment and assisted with heritage approvals. Montcrest School on Broadview Avenue is nominated in the category of “Private Buildings in Context.” Following the preparation of a Heritage Impact Assessment, GBCA completed a Conservation Plan for the existing heritage buildings on the site, which were integrated with new construction designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects. And, nominated in the category of “Master Plans” is the proposed Spirit Garden – Indian Residential School Survivors Restoration of Identity Project for which GBCA prepared a Heritage Impact Assessment based on an analysis of the project’s location adjacent to Nathan Phillips Square.

To see all of this year’s entries, click here.

The 2021 Award winners will be announced and celebrated during the Virtual Ceremony at 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, via the City of Toronto YouTube Premiere.