Hamilton City Hall
Hamilton City Hall was designed in the modernist International Style by Canada’s first municipally-employed architect, Stanley M. Roscoe.
Constructed in 1960, it has become one of the few intact examples of this style of architecture in Canada, and exemplifies a progressive movement away from the Victorian historicism of Hamilton at the time. Attributes of the International Style found in the design include: massing and geometry, open interior plan, structural grid system and the use of curtain wall, flat roofs, finishing materials of steel, concrete and marble, and the integration of art (as opposed to ornamentation) into the design.
The 2010 heritage rehabilitation of this modernist International Style building included:
- Relocation of services to the main floor to provide greater ease of access for the public
- Improvements to the building’s energy performance by insulating exterior walls, and installation of high efficiency mechanical systems
- Upgrades to meet current OBC requirements including barrier free accessibility
- Replacement of major building services and integration of contemporary technology
Challenges of the Heritage Conservation Plan:
- Integration of new building systems while respecting the heritage building fabric
- Replacement of exterior marble cladding with more durable cladding due to life safety and structural stability concerns caused by deterioration of the original marble in the southern Ontario climate
- Protection and restoration of Italian glass mosaic tile used extensively on exterior soffits, spandrel panels, and fascia, and interior walls and ceilings
- Protection and restoration of terrazzo flooring, interior wood paneling and doors, luminescent stone panels, marble interior paneling, aluminum handrails and guards, and curtain wall
- Conservation of interior art murals including cleaning, protection and relocation of one mural
- Rehabilitation of the Council Chambers with dome skylight
LOCATION
Hamilton, Ontario
COMPLETED
2010
SIZE
180,000 ft²
SERVICES
Heritage Consulting Services for Rehabilitation
AWARDS
2012 Toby Award (Office Building of the Year Award, Corporate Facility)
Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA Toronto)
2011 Award of Merit (Restoration)
City of Hamilton Public Works Department
Milton Town Hall
This unique design achieves an exciting and graceful balance of heritage and modern architecture.
The new two-storey addition is connected by a glass link to the existing historic Town Hall. Creating a visual separation between the link and the new addition is a stone wall that rises five feet higher than the rest of the building.
Central to this theme is the enhancement and formalization of the existing arrival to the building, through a transparent, transitional glass gateway. The structure of the Atrium is located in the current entrance to the historic building, as a significant expression of its activities and interests of its users. The gateway naturally flows out onto the public courtyard to form an invisible transition.
Throughout the planning, design, and construction process, +VG Architects worked closely with staff, stakeholders, and the community, by leading a process based upon meaningful consultation.
The interior allows for flexibility in planning and future change. The design incorporates a healthy workplace, through generous spaces, inviting materials, natural light, and natural ventilation brought together in an imaginative and creative manner.
Generous windows, skylights, atrium spaces, and stairs offer staff and visitors access to daylight and views, thus creating welcoming environments with a friendly, non-institutional feeling.
CLIENT
Town of Milton
COMPLETED
2009
SIZE
50,000 ft²
SERVICES
Expansion
AWARDS
2010 Public Works Project of the Year
Ontario Public Works Association
Halton Provincial Offenses Office
As the winner of a design-build competition, +VG Architects designed a POA Courthouse for the City of Burlington that was reflective of the landscape of Halton Region.
The north portion of the building is made of limestone to represent the escarpment to the north, and the south glass portion is meant to represent Lake Ontario south of the city. The landscape is further reflected within the use of repurposed telephone poles around the glass portion of the building.
While effectively giving the building an institutional feel, they are also reminiscent of the forestry of the region before urbanization and agriculture developed. The glass is highly reflective in hopes that it will almost double the look of the poles, to reinforce the environmental aspects of the region within the design. Deliverables included:
- Landscaping that was also in connection to the agrarian path. It is meant to look somewhat like an orchard or farm field, with linear organization and spatial definition. The natural environment is echoed in the design through the selection of landscape materials; tree species were selected to reflect the Carolinian typology of the region.
- Enhancements to courthouse functionality and barrier-free accessibility. Among these enhancements were the size and configuration of washrooms and holding cells for barrier-free accessibility. We included a barrier-free courthouse on the ground floor level along with a related barrier-free retiring room for a Justice of the Peace.
- The glass section, facing south, contains all the staff office areas and justice retiring rooms. The people working in these areas benefit from the abundance of natural light provided by the glass wall. The stone section, facing north, contains the police and security functions of the Courthouse as well as access to the Justice of the Peace secure parking garage, the Sally Port and incoming service rooms.
- Products and materials chosen were low maintenance and provide long-term durability. As an example, we chose to use a porcelain ceramic tile throughout the public lobby and washroom areas for these reasons. The colour scheme we chose is primarily natural, neutral colours warmed with traditional colour accents, intended to emphasize the calm and dignified proceedings that characterize the courthouse functions.
LOCATION
Burlington, Ontario
COMPLETED
2019
SIZE
34,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
PRESS
Burlington POA Courthouse development helps municipalities build costly facilities
Canadian Architect
Hamilton POA Courthouse
+VG Architects served as the Prime Consultant, in association with Invizij Architects, to deliver all consulting services required for the design and construction of this renovation and energy modernization project which was performed through a Construction Management model.
The project includes the integration of a heating and cooling retrofit through the Hamilton Utility Corporation (“HUC”) designed independently by H.H. Angus and Associates Consulting Engineers. The design conforms to the City’s Barrier Free Design Guidelines.
The Art Deco building was previously occupied by McMaster University as a tenant. The project intent was to convert the heritage building to provide a functional space for the Provincial Offences Administration (POA) offices, as well as all necessary courtrooms and ancillary spaces for both staff and the public, and additional administrative offices for the Ontario Municipal Board and City of Hamilton staff, and to accommodate future growth.
Work to protect and preserve the historic elements of the building was guided by City of Hamilton Heritage Resource Management. The majority of the work focused on the interior renovation of the facility, but some exterior work was required to comply with accessibility and police vehicular turning radius requirements.
LOCATION
Hamilton, Ontario
COMPLETED
2017
SIZE
112,000 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation & Energy Modernization
PRESS
+VG Architects restores midcentury-modern courthouse in Hamilton
Canadian Architect
Hamilton to open provincial offences administration in former Wentworth County Courthouse in August
Hamilton News
Hamilton’s ‘new’ provincial offences court balancing history with $32M renovation
Hamilton Spectator
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Community Health Centre, Guelph Office
The design of this new Satellite was based on a previously commissioned Space Needs Assessment delivered by +VG Architects.
The facility provides clinical services (immunization, sexual health, dental, etc.) teaching services (prenatal, breastfeeding, food handler, etc.) as well as administrative services (communications, human resources, etc.). +VG worked with an internal WDGPH committee to review the site and design the building to meet WDGPH specifications.
WDGPH intends that Shelldale Centre convey the message that this facility offers more than traditional services. This concept originates with the strong and positive reputation that the client has established with the other community service and health care providers within the multi-use building that Shelldale Centre is part of. The new facility was designed to impart a positive image to the community as safe, welcoming and comfortable, while operating in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
The accessibility needs of staff and clients were important components of the Owner’s criteria. The implementation of sustainable principles / practices was an important objective throughout the design and construction phases. The design met WDGPH’s requirements respecting the environmental, operational, life-cycle, quality and construction aspects of the project.
LOCATION
Guelph, Ontario
COMPLETED
2011
SIZE
5,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
York Regional Police Association (YRPA) New Office & Facility Clubhouse
The new office and clubhouse facility at 63 Eric T. Smith Way in Aurora offers YRPA and its members a new contemporary facility with office space for the association’s growing staff complement as well as additional rentable office spaces for suitable tenants. The facility also includes a new private member social space and a separate event space.
The two-storey building presents an elegant, contemporary expression upon approach. The first storey is clad in Eramosa limestone (quarried locally in Wiarton) with large storefront openings into the Credit Union space. The second floor is open and transparent with large expanses of glass accented by translucent glass and aluminum panels. All office areas are provided with operable windows to allow for natural ventilation during the spring and fall seasons. The north side of the building is crowned with a gently sloping standing seam metal roof interrupted by a two-storey entry lobby atrium of curtain wall glass. A continuous ribbon of clerestorey windows allow natural light into the north side tenant spaces.
The rear south facing façade is accented by a rhythm of stone piers with wood beams and soffits which define a continuous terrace that provides both open air trellis and covered outdoor spaces. The member terrace is punctuated at the west end by a stone clad fireplace. The terrace opens directly off the member dining and games rooms offering outdoor dining and lounge areas.
LOCATION
Aurora, Ontario
COMPLETED
2021
SIZE
35,962 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
St. Thomas Police Headquarters
As expressed by the Owner, the +VG design incorporates these goals:
- Designed to achieve LEED® Silver certification
- A secure and safe environment for staff and visitors
- 24 hours a day during regular operations
- Uninterrupted emergency services and systems in the case of a community emergency.
- A positive architectural addition to the community, which will encourage police and public interaction, and which will increase staff morale through presenting an up-to-date, professional image
- Open and inviting to the public, in keeping with the St. Thomas Police philosophy to be accessible and cooperative, yet meet the modern security requirements to ensure the Safety of occupants and property.
- Compliance with the latest standards of good practice for police agencies and policing adequacy standards and which incorporates the latest in design trends, features, systems and environmental considerations within an established project budget.
- Appropriate spaces to address many purposes including separation between areas occupied by police staff, the public, the press, and victims of crime, witnesses and suspects.
LOCATION
St. Thomas, Ontario
COMPLETED
2016
SIZE
43,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
County of Wellington OPP Detachment, North Wellington Operations Centre
Planned, designed and successfully completed by +VG Architects, this new detachment is not what you might expect in a police station.
Looking more like a town hall or public library, it reflects the growing movement towards community policing: a contemporary approach to law enforcement that integrates community functions within the traditional police station, in order to foster a closer relationship between the police and the community. The result is more open and accessible policing.
Designed within budget constraints, the building has an efficient plan, with no wasted space. Using open plan work spaces for the major office areas allows visual openness and helps foster a sense of community within the detachment.
This is a building of substance, made of quality materials fitting for a public building. Located off of the public entry, the Community Room provides the main link between the police and the community.
The project conforms to Wellington County Green Legacy Sustainable Building Design Standards, a custom alternative to programs like LEED® developed by +VG in collaboration with the County.
LOCATION
Teviotdale, Ontario
COMPLETED
2014
SIZE
19,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
