The Central at Bank and Gladstone (CORE Architects) is a modernist reinterpretation of the classic H-shaped apartment house.
Preserving of the front wall of the 1931 Metropolitan Bible Church was a condition of development.
After a few months in storage and more months under wraps as restoration work proceeded, it's been uncovered.
As the church was demolished its 1930s building technology was revealed - cindercrete walls and hot-riveted steel beams. The condo developers had intended to brace the old wall in place during construction, but safety concerns about its proximity to the excavation meant that it had to be partially dismantled, detatched, moved away and then reattached.
The mortar joints in the upper third of the wall had failed and it was unstable. These bricks had to be removed before the wall could be packed up in a steel sandwich and hoisted away.
It was temporarily placed down into the excavation and moved back into place once the new frame had reached the second floor.
As this big beam was being torn out during the demolition a notation in yellow paint was uncovered - 'THIS SIDE FACES BANK St'.
The canopy which enjoys non-conforming encroachment rights to hang out over the Bank Street sidewalk is to be re-instated as well.
The metal belt course over the third floor windows and the flashing on top of the parapet wall was faithfully reproduced.
Some of the ribbon brick from the Bible Church's 1961 addition was harvested for the old wall's reconstruction.
A tablet at the roofline and half-moon reliefs above the windows are yet to be returned. The restoration included two vents.
Facadism is usually decried by heritage preservation purists - way down the list of desirable strategies. It's true that most historic buildings lose some meaning when moved. Many have questioned the value this elaborate rescue of a middling building.
Was it worth the effort? An anonymous building has been remounted as a little brick nugget in a new metal setting. Both buildings look a little better for this architectural marriage.
The Central at Bank and Gladstone (CORE Architects) is a modernist reinterpretation of the classic H-shaped apartment house.
Preserving of the front wall of the 1931 Metropolitan Bible Church was a condition of development.
After a few months in storage and more months under wraps as restoration work proceeded, it's been uncovered.
As the church was demolished its 1930s building technology was revealed - cindercrete walls and hot-riveted steel beams. The condo developers had intended to brace the old wall in place during construction, but safety concerns about its proximity to the excavation meant that it had to be partially dismantled, detatched, moved away and then reattached.
The mortar joints in the upper third of the wall had failed and it was unstable. These bricks had to be removed before the wall could be packed up in a steel sandwich and hoisted away.
It was temporarily placed down into the excavation and moved back into place once the new frame had reached the second floor.
As this big beam was being torn out during the demolition a notation in yellow paint was uncovered - 'THIS SIDE FACES BANK St'.
The canopy which enjoys non-conforming encroachment rights to hang out over the Bank Street sidewalk is to be re-instated as well.
The metal belt course over the third floor windows and the flashing on top of the parapet wall was faithfully reproduced.
Some of the ribbon brick from the Bible Church's 1961 addition was harvested for the old wall's reconstruction.
A tablet at the roofline and half-moon reliefs above the windows are yet to be returned. The restoration included two vents.
Facadism is usually decried by heritage preservation purists - way down the list of desirable strategies. It's true that most historic buildings lose some meaning when moved. Many have questioned the value this elaborate rescue of a middling building.
Was it worth the effort? An anonymous building has been remounted as a little brick nugget in a new metal setting. Both buildings look a little better for this architectural marriage. 
It does seem a huge effort to have gone to, for a facade that isn't all that memorable.
ReplyDeleteWas it worth it? Retaining the existing wall at over a million plus total street shutdown twice - never. Rebuilding a la 90 George and asking Urban Capital/Doran to chip in on restoring something more worthy a bit further north - absolutely. They'd have done it too, City missed a good deal.
ReplyDelete{not anonymous, just as usual can't figure out the posting method}
This late 30's era church was neither historic or architecturally significant. Why did the city force this expense on the developer?
ReplyDeleteThis was a nice church on the inside. I used to go there on Sundays as a teenager. I find this design of keeping the facade on this monsterous glass building UGLY. It pays NO respect to the original building and it just doesnt fit with the modern building. Why do all condos have to be glass! It would have been nicer to have it built in brick to match the old facade.
ReplyDeleteI am actually moving into the condo next March and I am actually really pleased that the facade was kept. I think that is was a very good move by the Architect to try to balance the glazing and hard surface on the building (There is actually quite a lot of brick going into the building).
ReplyDeleteFrom the point of view of a pedestrian, I think that the facade softens up the streetscape and makes the whole building a little less cold.
As for the cost, the condos sold very quickly. Whatever cost the developer absorbed was likely passed on to the building occupants and it doesn't seem to affected sales.
The architects did the best they could with what they had to work with (not much). Honestly this facade what not worth all the effort. There are other buildings on Bank street that are worth saving like the Imperial Theater.
ReplyDeleteVery nice blog.. nice photography.. its really always great to see your wonderful blog..
ReplyDelete