90 Queen Street East, Toronto

Nominee for Peter Stokes Restoration Award – Large Scale

The conservation of 90-104 Queen Street East and 3 Mutual Street represents an exceptional achievement in the preservation of Ontario’s nineteenth-century commercial architecture through a disciplined commitment to material conservation, and skilled craftsmanship. While accommodating a new mixed-use development, the project moved well beyond façade retention by carefully conserving the buildings’ original heritage fabric through extensive documentation, cataloguing, dismantling, restoration, and reinstatement.

Historic brick masonry, stone detailing, wood storefronts, stained and leaded glass, and the Richard Bigley Building’s distinctive three-storey bay windows were preserved wherever possible using repair-before-replacement principles. When concealed deterioration rendered conventional repairs impossible, original components were salvaged and reincorporated into meticulously reconstructed assemblies, while concealed structural reinforcement was integrated to meet modern performance requirements without altering the buildings’ historic appearance.

Throughout construction, conservation decisions prioritized authenticity, minimal intervention, and compatibility of new work. Traditional and current masonry, carpentry, glazing, and restoration techniques were employed to retain character-defining elements and preserve the craftsmanship embodied within the original buildings.

The project demonstrates that complex urban redevelopment can successfully coexist with exemplary heritage conservation when guided by rigorous conservation principles and executed by skilled craftspeople. Through its exceptional material conservation, technical innovation, and long-term stewardship of an important nineteenth-century commercial streetscape, the project establishes a benchmark for conservation practice in Ontario.