Case Goods Warehouse

Nominated for the Paul Oberman Award for Adaptive Reuse: Large-Scale/Team/Corporate

The transformation of the Case Goods Warehouse and Cannery buildings has created a sustainable and vibrant community space in the heart of the Distillery District. These buildings are an integral component of this historic complex and reflect the industrial heritage and architectural character of the 19th-century distillery operations in Toronto. Now home to College Boreal, an educational and cultural hub for Ontario’s Francophone communities, these structures were transformed into lively, multi-purpose spaces that serve contemporary needs.

The new development reconfigured the interior spaces of the Case Goods Warehouse and the third floor of the Cannery Building to accommodate new commercial spaces at the ground floor, with office space and institutional uses above. The vision for the development was to modernize the interior spaces without compromising the historical and architectural value of the buildings. This involved navigating strict heritage conservation guidelines and balancing the need for modern functionality with the preservation of authentic architectural elements. The energy performance of the Case Goods Warehouse was enhanced by installing replacement windows and doors that were architecturally compatible with the original heritage components. Certain heritage attributes, such as the metal roller conveyor, were retained in-situ to protect and highlight the cultural heritage value of the site. The careful design and installation of new mechanical and electrical systems involved a detailed analysis of the existing structure to identify the most suitable locations for these elements, ensuring they blended seamlessly with the historic fabric of the building.

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