Jordan Historical Museum
In 2015, +VG was retained to conduct the Master Plan update for the Jordan Historical Museum. A Plan has been drafted for a new facility which will bring the museum into the 21st Century.
The design shows a modern museum composed of a combination of wood, glass and stone. The new facility will have a full basement and community space and will look out onto Twenty Valley. The overall vision for the site is to create a cultural gateway for the town. The shape and layout of the new museum will make the museum’s “walk-in artifacts” more prominent upon arrival.
The road to a new facility has been a long one for the museum, which was started by a group of volunteers in 1953. “It’s been a dream since the museum started,” said Director Helen Booth, noting the old home housing the museum has been a challenge. “The museum has always needed a home. We’ve gone from pillar to post over the years.”
One of the biggest challenges of the space is its inability to house the museum collection. Artifacts have to be stored off-site at Town Hall for proper preservation. “Everything will be coming home,” said Booth, noting the collection will be set up in a way that makes it visible to museum visitors. Another key feature of the new design is a proposed amphitheatre, which will enable the museum to expand its programming by way of music and performing arts.
LOCATION
Lincoln, Ontario
CLIENT
Jordan Historical Museum
COMPLETED
2018
SIZE
9,600 ft²
SERVICES
Master Plan Update for Addition
Kingston Pump House Steam Museum
The Kingston Pump House Museum is a demonstration of the original waterworks that served the City of Kingston in the 19th Century.
The Pump House is located in one of Canada’s oldest original water works – where steam-powered pumps provided the first running water to Kingston residents from 1851. Only six similar preserved water pumping stations remain in North America
The assignment involved an addition to house workshops, arrival and orientation space for school groups, new accessible washrooms and office areas, as well as renovations to the existing historic building.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
CLIENT
City of Kingston
COMPLETED
2017
SIZE
9,200 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation & Addition
Fort Henry Discovery Centre
Located in Kingston, and part of the St. Lawrence River tourist corridor, Fort Henry provides a living example of garrison life within the period before and after Confederation.
In 2007, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classified the Rideau Canal and all area fortifications and surrounding land- scapes as a World Heritage Site. To augment the new World Heritage classification, a new Visitors Interpretive Centre was proposed to further develop the attraction for an immersive tourist experience. New programs have been designed to increase revenues for the site, and to prepare for an increase in attendance by the local community and tourists.
Careful consideration was taken to design this attraction on a historic site at the entrance to the Rideau Canal system.
The project included a new multi-purpose space and event venue, outdoor patios, an 1,850 ft² gift shop for museum souvenirs, a 800 ft² snackbar, and public wash- rooms.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
CLIENT
St. Lawrence Parks Commission
DESIGNATED
UNESCO World Heritage Site
COMPLETED
December 2012
SIZE
10,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction on a UNESCO World Heritage Site
AWARDS
2014 CAHP Awards
New Building on a Historic Site
Markham Museum Collections Building
The Markham Museum Collections building is an expansion on to the existing Visitor’s Centre and forms the “Gateway” to the Markham Museum Pioneer Village.
The architectural design is a modern interpretation of the industrial and agricultural heritage for the Town. The initial design stage was to create a Master Plan for the entire site and Facility Program (with EDA), including the long term development of the Pioneer Village which is programmed with a variety of community, family, and school programming year round.
The new building was built using prefabricated steel structures for maximum area with minimum cost. The final result is reminiscent of a 19th Century barn. The new Markham Museum houses a substantially enlarged collection, previously in storage, and forms the anchor for the surrounding municipal heritage park. Features of the Collections Building include permanent and rotating collection spaces, restoration studios, administrative spaces and food service amenities.
As part of the City’s overall Green Building Initiative, the Collections Building was to achieve a minimum level of LEED® Silver Certification. The project was awarded LEED® Gold in March 2014.
The Master Plan for the park was developed at the beginning of the project to enhance educational programming, determine the location for the Collections Building, and develop long-term goals for the site. The new building accommodates covered outdoor activity space for students and other visitors.
LOCATION
Markham, Ontario
CLIENT
City of Markham
COMPLETED
2010
SIZE
16,000 ft²
LEED
LEED® Gold Certified
SERVICES
Renovation & Addition
Lennox & Addington Museum & Archives
The County Museum and Archives is adjacent to the County’s stately limestone Courthouse, restored by +VG Architects in 1996. The museum, an 1864 limestone building, was, until 1971, the county jail.
In 2002, the County retained +VG Architects to provide architectural consulting and museum planning services to carry out a review of the Museum and Archives structural and functional components, such as service delivery and accessibility, in order to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the Museum operation for the 21st Century. One of the major goals of the study was to find ways to accommodate more flexible space for student activity, education programs, and multi-purpose needs.
In Spring 2009, +VG was asked to revisit the study to review the program against current needs and update project costing in anticipation of proceeding with implementation of the Museum and Archives Master Plan vision later in 2009. In 2011, +VG was retained to design the expansion to the existing Archives building. We were chosen for the expertise and experience with designing institutional buildings within historical contexts.
The expansion includes new activity and educational program areas, public washrooms, relocated Research Room and Archival Storage, multi-purpose space, storage space in the basement, and a new one-storey gallery addition.
The historical setting of the property as a whole, represented a unique challenge. In order to fully appreciate this setting, it was imperative that the development of the property be designed in harmony with both the topography of the site and the existing heritage fabric, so that the historical beauty of the existing building and natural open area of the site will continue to be the dominant features. To accomplish this, careful consideration has been given to the size and siting of the building, the architecture of the new intervention in regards to the choice of cladding materials, and in maintaining as much as possible of the property in its natural current state.
LOCATION
Napanee, Ontario
CLIENT
County of Lennox & Addington
COMPLETED
2014
SIZE
12,000 ft²
SERVICES
Study, Renovation & Addition
