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Photograph of front entrance of a large 3 storey stone church building. The first and third storeys have rectangular windows, the second has arched windows. The middle of the building has an extended section which is pointed at the top with a small cross. The front door is dark red with gold around. There are two flagpoles on the front pavement, the left is the Canadian flag.

Bishop’s Palace St. Michael’s Cathedral

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Bishop’s Palace at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica

Front entrance, Exterior Conservation of the Bishop’s Palace at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, 2021 Heritage Toronto Award Build Heritage Nominee. Image: +VG Architects

Front entrance, Exterior Conservation of the Bishop’s Palace at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, 2021 Heritage Toronto Award Build Heritage Nominee. Image: +VG Architects

West Façade, Exterior Conservation of the Bishop’s Palace at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, 2021 Heritage Toronto Award Build Heritage Nominee. Image: +VG Architects.

West Façade, Exterior Conservation of the Bishop’s Palace at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, 2021 Heritage Toronto Award Build Heritage Nominee. Image: +VG Architects.

Carved stone likeness of Bishop Michael Power, front entrance of the Bishop’s Palace, St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, Toronto. Courtesy of +VG Architects.

Carved stone likeness of Bishop Michael Power, front entrance of the Bishop’s Palace, St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, Toronto. Courtesy of +VG Architects.

Exterior Conservation

Completed in late 2020, the Exterior Conservation of the Bishop’s Palace (or Rectory), is the most recent phase of the implementation of the Masterplan for the Rehabilitation of St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica. Designed by architect William Thomas, the 1845 Bishop’s Palace has been recognized by the Toronto Historical Board as the oldest building in the City still in use for its original purpose.

The scope and intent of the exterior conservation project was to stabilize, improve, and preserve the deteriorated heritage building envelope, including intricate Berea sandstone carvings, gothic-style pinnacles, decorative brick detailing, and stained-glass windows. Simultaneously, the project upgraded the failing asphalt shingle roof, and replaced obsolete, vinyl-clad windows with new units providing significantly enhanced thermal and acoustic performance. A key objective was to maintain the architectural coherence of the group of buildings which together make up the historic site at St. Michael’s.

 

Project Partners

Property Owner: Angelus & Associates Ltd. on behalf of the Archdiocese of Toronto

Heritage Architect: +VG Architects

Additional Partners:

—Archdiocese of Toronto

—Buttcon Ltd.

—Clifford Restoration Ltd.

—Vitreous Glazing

—Quinn Dressel Associates

—Semple Gooder

—Traditional Cut Stone Ltd.

—Crossey Engineering

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