John Muir Branch of the Windsor Public Library (Studio g+G Inc.)

Nominated for the Paul Oberman Award for Adaptive Reuse: Large-Scale/Team/Corporate for the beautiful renovation and transformation of Windsor’s oldest Fire Hall

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In 2016, the Windsor Public Library contracted heritage architect Jason Grossi of Studio g+G Inc. to transform the 1921 Sandwich Fire Hall and pre-1915 Stables into their new Sandwich Branch of the library. The fire hall and stables, designed by Gilbert JP Jacques, is the oldest Fire Hall in Windsor. The crumbling building, which was listed on the register of Canada’s Historic Places in 1998, was located a short distance from the existing library branch at Brock Public School. The $5.5 million adaptive reuse of the 7,400ft space would incorporate existing heritage features and, using special imagination, charred timber from the 1941 fire that decimated the second floor and much of the upper part of the hose drying tower. Completed in 2019, the renovation of the library branch includes a skylit elevated walkway connecting the Fire Hall with the stable and a glass capped observation tower in the former hose drying tower that provides a unique view of one of the oldest areas in Upper Canada. 

Grossi’s design honours the character defining features of the structure. Mayor Drew Dilkins lauded the fully accessible building and the unique design as forward thinking. Grossi said that his goal was to provide visual dynamism while honouring the original character of the structure and its place in the heritage landscape of the neighbourhood. He used unique heritage materials in his design including Douglas Fir cladding and cobbles from the entrance to the Ambassador Bridge, built in 1929. The result is a beautiful and restful space that is sure to inspire the future architects in the City of Windsor.

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