Two GBCA projects awarded CAHP Awards in 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.

A first look inside the rebuilt Silver Dollar Room

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.

Toronto Urban Design Award for the CF Toronto Eaton Centre

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.