About GBCA
Meet Our Team
We are a professional architecture firm based in Toronto.
Our focus includes adaptive re-use, renovations, feasibility studies, preservation, and heritage buildings.
As one of the country’s leading heritage firms, GBCA (Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd. Architects) provides a full range of architectural services for a variety of built projects, including adaptive reuse, restoration and rehabilitation. These include the preparation of heritage impact assessments, conservation reports, master plans and feasibility studies, as-built documentation and construction drawings. Our expertise in building science and building envelope systems is also invaluable to sustainable development projects.
Working as a prime consultant or as part of a larger team, GBCA is equipped to handle a wide range of assignments. We bring together the skills, sensitivity and specialized knowledge needed to conserve built and cultural heritage while creating contemporary environments that support our clients’ needs.
Led by Christopher Borgal (President) and Robert Brough (Vice-President), our team brings distinctive specialties in architecture, heritage, conservation, and design. Our firm is supported by experienced architectural and administrative staff, and we are committed to responding to our clients’ needs energetically and proactively.
See our award-winning projects and who we’ve worked with over the years.
Mimi Lai Drivas
Senior Associate │ Marketing, BD
Stephen Chun
Intern Architect
Francesco Ferri
Architectural Designer
Honours & Awards
International Architecture Award Honorable Mention
Chicago Athenaeum/European Centre for Architecture
Massey Music Hall – Toronto, ON
Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards
Massey Music Hall – Toronto, ON
2023
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals
Award of Excellence
Massey Music Hall – Toronto, ON
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals
Award of Merit: Materials, Craftsmanship and Construction
Mackenzie Hall – Windsor, ON
Architectural Conservancy of Ontario
Special Jury Award
Massey Music Hall – Toronto, ON
Heritage Toronto
Built Heritage: Crafts and Trades
Massey Music Hall – Toronto, ON
Built Heritage Award
City of Windsor
Mackenzie Hall – Windsor, ON
2022
Toronto Urban Design Award
Award of Excellence
Montcrest School, Broadview Avenue – Toronto, ON
Peggy Kurtin Award for Excellence in Restoration
Cabbagetown Preservation Association
The Winchester Hotel, 531 Parliament Street – Toronto, ON
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals
Award of Excellence for Conservation
John Muir Branch – Windsor Public Library – Windsor, ON
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals
Award of Merit
Silver Dollar Room – Toronto, ON
2021
Built Heritage Award
City of Windsor
Willistead Manor Restoration – Windsor, ON
2020
National Award
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
Cultural Heritage Landscapes Inventory for the City of Kitchener (with Landplan Collaborative Ltd.) – Kitchener, ON
2016
Ecclesiastical Insurance Cornerstone Award
Heritage Canada
Market Street Development – Toronto, ON
Heritage Toronto
Honourable Mention
Artscape Youngplace Shaw Street – Toronto, ON
Toronto Urban Design Award
Market Street Development – Toronto, ON
2015
Ontario Masonry Design Award
Bay Adelaide Centre – Toronto, ON
Heritage Toronto – Award of Excellence
Market Street Redevelopment – Toronto, ON
2014
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals – Award of Merit for Rehabilitation
Canadian Northern Railway Locomotive Shop – Toronto, ON
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals – Award of Merit for Rehabilitation
James Cooper Mansion – Toronto, ON
Brampton Urban Design Awards – Award of Excellence
Peel Region Art Gallery, Museum + Archives (PAMA) – Brampton, ON
Brampton Urban Design Awards – Best Central Area Project
Peel Region Art Gallery, Museum + Archives (PAMA) – Brampton, ON
Brampton Urban Design Awards – People’s Choice Award
Peel Region Art Gallery, Museum + Archives (PAMA) – Brampton, ON
2013
Pug Awards – Honourable Mention for Outstanding Achievement
James Cooper Mansion, Sherbourne Street – Toronto, ON
Pug Awards – Paul Oberman Award for Outstanding Achievement
Shops of Summerhill (1095-1103 Yonge Street) – Toronto, ON
Heritage Toronto – Award of Merit
James Cooper Mansion, Sherbourne Street – Toronto, ON
2012
Heritage Toronto – Honourable Mention
Pease Foundry Building, 211 Laird Drive – Toronto, ON
Heritage Toronto – Award of Merit
Shops of Summerhill – 1099 Yonge Street – Toronto, ON
Heritage Toronto – Award of Excellence
Toronto’s Seventh Post Office, 10 Toronto Street – Toronto, ON
Architectural Conservancy of Ontario – Peter Stokes Restoration Award
Guelph Provincial Offences Court Renovations – Guelph, ON
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals – Award for Preservation of a Heritage Building
Toronto’s Seventh Post Office, 10 Toronto Street – Toronto, ON
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals – Award for Craftsmanship
Restoration of Birks Clock – Hamilton, ON
Toronto Urban Design Awards – Award of Excellence
Shops of Summerhill, 1099 Yonge Street – Toronto, ON
Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, Guelph and Wellington Branch Heritage Awards
Former Guelph City Hall – Provincial Offences Court – Guelph, Ontario
2011
OAA – Design of Excellence Award
Maitland Residence – National Ballet School – Toronto, ON
2010
Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals – Award of Merit
Maitland Residence – National Ballet School – Toronto, ON
2009
Governor General’s Medal in Architecture – The Canada Council for the Arts and The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Canada’s National Ballet School – Project Grand Jete – Toronto, ON
City of Ottawa Conservation Award – Certificate of Merit: Restoration
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church – Ottawa, ON
2008
Award for Planning Excellence – Canadian Institute of Planners
Honourable Mention: Urban Design
Parlimentary and Judicial Precincts Area Site, Capacity and Long Term Development Plan For PWGSC Parliament Precint Directories – Ottawa, ON
Institute Honour Award – The American Institute of Architects
Canada’s National Ballet School – Project Grand Jete – Toronto, ON
2007
Award of Excellence, Commercial – Heritage Toronto
Canada’s National Ballet School – Project Grand Jete Phase I Jarvis – Toronto, ON
Architectural Award of Excellence – Ontario Association of Architects
Canada’s National Ballet School – Phase I Jarvis – Toronto, ON
Best of Canada Design Competition – Canadian Interiors
Canada’s National Ballet School – Phase I Jarvis – Toronto, ON
Best Design Commercial/Institutional – Pugly Awards City of Toronto
Canada’s National Ballet School – Toronto, ON
2006
Best of the Best Award – Toronto Construction Association
National Ballet School of Canada Expansion – Toronto, ON
Award of Merit, Restoration – City of Toronto
Miller Tavern – Toronto, ON
2005
Architectural Award of Excellence – Ontario Association of Architects
Restoration of North Toronto Train Station / LCBO Summerhill Store – Toronto, ON
Award of Excellence, Commercial – Heritage Toronto
Restoration / Adaptive Reuse, North Toronto Station – Toronto, ON
Award of Excellence, Commercial – Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario
Summerhill LCBO Interior (North Toronto Station) – Toronto, ON
Outstanding Merit, Food Retailer – nasfm – Retail Detail Design Awards
LCBO/Summerhill Flagship Store (North Toronto Station) – Toronto, ON
2004
Best of the Best Award – Toronto Construction Association
Project Achievement – Medium – North Toronto Station – Toronto, ON
2003
Citation – In collaboration with The Landplan Collaborative Ltd
– The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects
Paletta Lakefront Park – Burlington, ON
2002
Heritage Awards – City of Burlington, Heritage Burlington LACAC
McNichol (Paletta) Mansion Barn – Burlington, ON
2001
Urban Design Award – City of Toronto
Toronto Brickworks – Adaptive Re-use of Buildings and Park Development – Don Valley (Toronto), ON
2000
National Historic Sites of Canada
- Annesley Hall, Toronto, Ontario
- Camp 30/Former Bowmanville Boys Training School, Bowmanville, Ontario
- Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ontario
- Empress Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia
- Fort York, Toronto, Ontario
- Fulford Place, Brockville, Ontario
- Guelph City Hall, Guelph, Ontario
- Homer Watson House, Kitchener, Ontario
- Massey Music Hall, Toronto, Ontario
- Old Toronto Post Office, Toronto, Ontario
- Osgoode Hall, Toronto, Ontario
- Parliament Buildings of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
- Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
- Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Ontario
- St. George’s Hall (Arts and Letters Club), Toronto, Ontario
- Union Station, Toronto, Ontario