BlueBlood Steakhouse, Casa Loma
In 2014, Liberty Entertainment Group entered into a lease agreement with the City of Toronto to operate Casa Loma, one of Toronto’s most prominent heritage tourist attractions.
+VG assisted Liberty in securing Heritage Preservation Services approval for several important programming initiatives. One such initiative is the design of a new fine-dining steakhouse within the historically significant Billiard Room, Smoking Room and Oak Room.
The project entailed restoration of significant components of the rooms, new ‘reversible’ installations including a cocktail bar and ice bar as well as a new finishing kitchen, LULA Elevator serving the kitchen from the basement, new kitchen exhaust with economizer and washroom renovations. While the client provided the theming and interior design of the restaurant, +VG prepared Heritage Impact Assessment Statement, prepared permit drawings and coordinated with the client’s engineering team.
LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario
COMPLETED
2017
SIZE
2,800 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation & Restoration
Kingston East Community Centre
The Kingston East Community Centre is designed as a state of the art recreational facility that features a full gym and running track, an EarlyON childcare facility, a fitness studio, a splash-pad, and a community kitchen.
The building is uniquely situated amongst existing recreational infrastructure to create a recreation hub for Kingston’s east-end community of Pittsburgh Township. The new facility was designed in compliance with all applicable municipal accessibility design standards and with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).The programming and facilities offered through the new facility promote inclusive and healthy living to the immediate community and beyond.
In conjunction with the goal of enhancing the surrounding area, the Kingston East Community Centre contributes to the City of Kingston’s goal of reducing carbon emissions to become a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship at a city scale. The facility employs a geothermal field, solar infrastructure, high-performance building envelope, enhanced day-lighting strategies and LED lighting throughout to provide a total-carbon emission reduction of over 50%. A new stormwater management design was developed for the entire site in order to improve drainage and conform with the local conservation authority’s guidelines. New landscaping and plantings will improve the environmental quality of Grenadier park. The project aspires to be a learning tool to highlight the benefits of sustainable design to the community and act as an example for future community centres and public buildings for the City of Kingston.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
CLIENT
City of Kingston
COMPLETED
2021
SIZE
20,500 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
AWARDS
2023 Livable City Award
City of Kingston
PRESS
Kingston hands out Livable City Design Awards
Ontario Construction News
Winners Announced for Livable City Design Awards
Kingston Herald
Kingston East Community Centre, Kingston, Ontario
Canadian Architect
Kingston East Community Centre cuts the ribbon for ‘soft open’
Kingstonist
East Kingston’s new community centre set to open
The Kingston Whig Standard
City officials break ground on Kingston East Community Centre
The Whig
Royal Canadian Yacht Club City Club
+VG were retained by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club to carry out renovations to the clubs’ two clubhouses, the City Club located downtown Toronto and the Island Club, located on Toronto Island.
The City clubhouse is heavily used during the winter months and provides fitness rooms, indoor pool, racket sports, locker facilities and dining/bar amenities. The renovations involved creation of a new open, flexible and contemporary bistro dining and bar space to replace the existing banquet room on the main floor and extensive updating of the men’s and women’s locker areas and the creation of a new ‘family’ change room to address the changing club demographics. The renovated areas comprised approximately 6,700 ft².
LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario
COMPLETED
2018
SIZE
6,700 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation
Royal Canadian Yacht Club Island Club
+VG were retained by the Royal Canadian Yacht Club to carry out renovations to the clubs’ two clubhouses, the City Club located downtown Toronto and the Island Club, located on Toronto Island.
The historic Island clubhouse (circa 1919) is the home base for the sailing members of the club and is heavily used during the summer months. The clubhouse is predominantly used by members for ‘apres’ sailing dining and socializing. The upper floor banquet space is booked extensively for weddings and receptions. The project involved the restoration of the building exterior, provision of a new elevator serving the inaccessible upper floor, new main floor member washroom facilities and the creation of a new city-facing bar/bistro/dining area. The renovated areas comprised approximately 10,350 ft² not including outdoor verandah areas that were also restored.
LOCATION
Toronto Island, Ontario
COMPLETED
2018
SIZE
10,350 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation
Oshawa Golf & Curling Club
The project involved various renovation scopes to refresh the private clubhouse that was last renovated in the early 1990’s.
The project entailed:
- Recladding most of the building exterior except for the curling rink
- Renovation and reorganization of the member social areas and pro-shop that improved circulation as well as providing a new contemporary bistro dining and bar area
- Renovation of the locker area and associated shower and washroom spaces including new wood lockers, new plumbing fixtures and finishes throughout.
The reorganization of the ground floor level provided much improved access to outdoor patio areas for members and guests while offering pro-shop staff with direct visual access to the first tee and staging areas.
The renovations were scheduled to minimize impact to the club by staging work to begin on the exterior work during the fall months and interior renovations occurring during the winter. The project was completed for the new golf season. The contractor mobilized on site in September 2016 and the interior areas were completed in May 2017.
LOCATION
Oshawa, Ontario
COMPLETED
2017
SIZE
48,112 ft² (Overall Building)
13,780 ft² (Renovation Area)
SERVICES
Renovation
Cataraqui Golf & Country Club
The project involves an extensive renovation and a 3,000 ft² addition to the main floor of the existing clubhouse.
The existing clubhouse was constructed in the early 1970’s and the main goal was to completely refit the golf lounge and locker facilities. The golf lounge includes full food and beverage service with a curling lounge, administration offices, and event spaces on the second floor.
Renovation of 7,400 ft² provides expanded locker rooms and associated washroom areas, including new larger lockers; towel and grooming stations; and increased shower facilities, including barrier-free accessible shower stalls in each locker area. The new golf lounge includes a curved bar, double-sided fireplace, and a variety of seating areas for both casual après-golf gatherings and more formal dining.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
COMPLETED
2011
SIZE
7,400 ft² (Renovation Area)
3,000 ft² (Addition)
SERVICES
Renovation & Addition
PHOTOGRAPHY
David Bell
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
Hamilton Golf and Country Club retained +VG to design a comprehensive master plan and renovation of the existing historic clubhouse.
The original clubhouse was constructed circa 1924 and retained much of its original fabric. The project involved the redevelopment of the building to provide contemporary member and event space, including newly configured locker rooms for men and women, new kitchen facilities, new lounge and member restaurant areas, as well as a new addition to accommodate large member and external events (capacity for 210).
LOCATION
Hamilton, Ontario
COMPLETED
2008
SIZE
48,000 ft²
SERVICES
Master Plan, Renovation & Addition
OslerBrook Golf Clubhouse
The course, designed by award-winning Canadian golf course architect Graham Cooke, was the only private member-owned championship 18-hole facility in the Collingwood area.
With the escarpment as its backdrop and long vistas to Georgian Bay, this 12,500 ft² clubhouse provides members with a refined but casual facility for dining and gathering “apres golf”. The facility includes locker rooms for 450, club storage area, pro shop, small commercial kitchen, and multi-functional dining/banquet space, bar, and deck areas.
LOCATION
Collingwood, Ontario
COMPLETED
2007
SIZE
12,500 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction