March 11, 2010

ARCHITECTSALLIANCE

Glass walls will increase visibility at the redesigned parish house at Toronto’s St. James Cathedral.

Ground broken on the Cathedral Centre in Toronto

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

After a decade of planning, ground has been broken on a project that includes restoration and expansion of the St. James parish house in downtown Toronto.

To be renamed the Cathedral Centre, the parish house is a part of the historic St. James Cathedral, which has played a vital role in the community for more than 200 years.

The house, which was built in 1909, was last refurbished some 50 years ago.

“We’re very proud to be a part of this special day,” says Randy Dalton, chief operating officer of The Dalton Co. Ltd., the project’s construction manager.

“The Cathedral Centre is an exciting, historic project that will reaffirm St. James’ position as an integral part of the community, going back two centuries.”

Designed by architectsAlliance, the Cathedral Centre will span 34,000 square feet, providing office space, meeting rooms, archives space and a kitchen. Barrier-free access will be provided. Surroundings will be landscaped.

While the historic façade along Church and Adelaide streets will be maintained, new construction featuring glass walls will increase visibility in the area facing St. James Park.

“The structural, mechanical and electrical retrofits to the historical portion of the building will be the most challenging aspects of the project,” says Mike Pharant, Dalton’s project manager.

“We have to ensure all work is in keeping with the heritage and integrity of St. James Cathedral.”

The project is scheduled for completion in 2011. Construction costs have not been finalized.

The existing three-storey building has served more than 500,000 Toronto residents by providing a drop-in centre, housing social and educational group activities and choir practices.

The parish house also plays host to hundreds of meetings from outside groups and provides a home for the archives and museum chronicling the shared history of the cathedral and the City of Toronto.

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