85 Richmond Street West
85 Richmond Street West
85 Richmond St W, 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards Built Heritage Nominee. Image: +VG Architects.
Corner of 85 Richmond St W, 2021 Heritage Toronto Awards Built Heritage Nominee. Image: +VG Architects
Heritage Rehabilitation
Built in 1923, the Federal Building at 85 Richmond St. W. is one of Toronto’s few remaining first-generation “skyscrapers.” Conservation work on 85 Richmond Street West included investigations into the heritage elements to determine existing conditions and appropriate conservation strategies for masonry and metals. The project rehabilitated the building, allowing for its continued use as an office.
The scope of the project included:
—Rehabilitation of the 303-foot-long Beaux Arts pressed-metal cornice at the roof level (original removed in the early 1950s)
—Rehabilitation of original fenestration and spandrel patterning to accentuate the historical proportional division of the façade
—Masonry and metals conservation of the exterior building envelope and heritage lobby
—Sensitive insertion of a clearly distinguishable, subordinate and visually compatible steel and glass addition within the original lightwell of the Chicago School U-shaped plan
Project Date of Completion: July 12, 2020
Project Partners
Property Owner: Oxford Properties Group
Heritage Architect: +VG Architects
Architect: WZMH Architects
Construction Manager: PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
Masonry, Wood Windows Conservation: Clifford Restoration Ltd.
Sheet Metal (Cornice): Heather & Little Ltd.
Bronze Restoration: Age of Bronze
Windows: Stadia Industries and PermaTint Ltd.
Stone: Avenue Marble Restoration, Traditional Cut Stone Ltd., Lacroix Granite, Adair Limestone (Arriscraft)