Waterworks Building

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

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The 505 Richmond – Waterworks project involved the adaptive reuse of a 1930s Art Deco public utilities building into a vibrant, mixed-use facility, while preserving its heritage character. The site, historically home to Toronto’s only west-end market and a Depression-era employment initiative, was designated a heritage property for its architectural and social significance. Clifford Restoration worked in collaboration with Woodcliffe Landmark Properties, MOD Developments, ERA Architects, and Diamond Schmitt Architects on the restoration which focused on conserving defining heritage elements, including limestone entryways, steel windows, masonry façades, and a historic gantry crane.

The project faced several technical and logistical challenges. Key among them was the dismantling, storage, and reinstallation of the massive gantry crane – a central historic feature – which required complete shutdowns of surrounding areas and meticulous coordination. Other challenges included adhering to strict heritage guidelines while managing modern interventions like a rooftop residential addition and new retail infrastructure. Unexpected issues such as masonry deterioration, heritage paint removal, and salvaging large wood and metal features demanded highly specialized conservation techniques and close collaboration with heritage consultants. The success of the project has had a profound impact on the community. The restored building now hosts retail spaces, a YMCA, and 288 residential units above – reinvigorating a previously underused site and contributing to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Toronto. It serves as both a public gathering space and a reminder of the area’s rich industrial and civic past.

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