2010 Awards

The annual Ottawa Architectural Conservation Awards recognize excellence in the preservation of the City’s architectural heritage. Submissions were received in the following categories: Restoration (returning a heritage resource to its original form, material and integrity); Adaptive Use (modification of a heritage resource to contemporary functional standards while retaining its heritage character); and Infill (an addition to an historic building, or all-new construction within an historic context). Bronze plaques are mounted on Award of Excellence-winning projects, and major contributors to each project receive framed certificates. Certificates of Merit are presented to projects and contributors deserving recognition in the three categories.

Award of Excellence – Infill
444 Highcroft Avenue

Ward 15 – Kitchissippi – Councillor Christine Leadman

This project involved an addition to provide a mudroom and another bedroom. The addition was designed to be sympathetic to the existing house by reflecting the form, scale and massing of a two-storey enclosed porch that would have been typical of an early 20^th century four-square brick house in the Westboro area. The addition is clearly contemporary in style and distinguishable from the original house. This project illustrates a small-scale project that enhances not only the historic house but also the streetscape as a whole.

Receiving certificates:

Lisa Foss and Rob Vandenberg

Kevin Deevey B. Arch, OAA, LEED, AP
Kevin Deevey Architect Inc.

Vincent DeBeer, Vincent DeBeer General Contracting

Patrick Pelda, Cogo Carpentry

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Award of Excellence – Restoration
Foisy House, 184 St. Andrew Street

Ward 12 – Rideau-Vanier – Councillor Georges Bédard

Foisy House, a one and a half storey wood-framed house, is a rare example of the early residential development of Lowertown in the 19^th century. Alexander Foisy, a tinsmith noted for the Tin House façade in Tin House Court, built Foisy House in 1860. By 2002, Foisy House had been neglected and abandoned for a number of years. The current owner purchased the property, found historical photographs of the building and undertook a meticulous restoration project. Of particular note is the reproduction of the intricate front porch that has been restored to its 1900 appearance. A number of interior elements have also been restored to their 19^th century appearance, including the wooden floors, the staircase and baluster, and the tin ceiling in the foyer of the house.

Receiving certificates:

Geneviève Houle

Gontran Bolduc, Builder
Marc Bolduc

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Award of Excellence – Restoration
Woodburn House, 73 MacKay Street

Ward 13 – Rideau-Rockcliffe – Councillor Jacques Legendre

This project involved the rebuilding of the main chimney of one-half of the semi-detached Woodburn House in the New Edinburgh Heritage Conservation District. Woodburn House is a Gothic Revival style brick house that was built circa 1874 with extensive decorative woodwork and polychromatic brickwork. While exact historical evidence was not available to inform the project, the owner did extensive research on Victorian chimneys and surveyed similar houses in the neighbourhood for inspiration. The result is sympathetic, enhances the house and honours a building element that is very often neglected.

Receiving certificates:

Katherine Arkay

Keystone Traditional Masonry Inc.

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Award of Excellence – Infill / Restoration
Strathcona on the Parc, 417 - 421 Laurier Avenue East

Ward 12 – Rideau-Vanier – Councillor Georges Bédard

This project involved the restoration and adaptive reuse of two designated Queen Anne Revival style houses on Laurier Avenue East in the Wilbrod/Laurier Heritage Conservation District. The two houses had been altered over time and were restored using historic photographs to replicate missing elements, such as the front porches. This project also involved new construction of an eight unit, four-storey condominium complex at the rear of the property. The new addition is clearly contemporary in style but sympathetic to the historic houses in materials, massing and setback. This project exemplifies the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, and sets an excellent precedent as the type of infill project that should be encouraged in Heritage Conservation Districts throughout Ottawa.

Receiving certificates:

421 Laurier Avenue Limited

Barry Padolsky Associates Inc. Architects

Paul Daoust Construction Canada Limited

Halsall Associates Limited

Douglas Associates Landscape Architects Limited

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Certificate of Merit – Adaptive Use
406 Queen Street

Ward 14 – Somerset – Councillor Diane Holmes

This project involved the adaptive use of a designated Queen Anne Revival style house from residential to office use. This house, located on Queen Street, is individually designated and is also located adjacent to the Cathedral Hill Heritage Conservation District. The architect took an approach of minimal intervention in the conversion by protecting the historic elements throughout the interior of the building while bringing the building up to a commercial standard.

Receiving certificates:

Antonietta Talarico

Ross Talarico, Professional Corporation

Costantino + Associates Architect Incorporated

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Certificate of Merit – Infill
224-226 Dalhousie Street, 114-116 Guigues Avenue

Ward 12 – Rideau-Vanier – Councillor Georges Bédard

This project involved the rehabilitation of two buildings in the Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District, as well as new mixed-use infill. The project is sensitive to the scale, form and massing typical of the historic area and has revitalized the corner of Dalhousie Street and Guigues Avenue. This project is successful from an urban design perspective and maintains the rhythm and feel of the mixed-use development historically present in the area.

Receiving certificates:

Regional Group of Companies

Douglas Hardie Architect Inc.

Novatech Engineering Consultants Limited

LA Group Project Management

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