Blog  September 23, 2011

Introducing the Green Design Exhibit at EBW

The Green Design exhibit is installed! (Photo: Yuliya Tsoy)

Almost every community in Canada has its share of run-down buildings.

If left to disrepair, they can be a scourge on the landscape—especially when accompanied by waste from abandoned factories and old industrial equipment. And even if they are slated for new development, the process can be a major drain of energy and money.

That’s why many architects and builders are focusing on adaptive reuse—a method of working with older structures to create new (and improved) buildings.

It’s just one of many strategies that will be featured at the international Greenbuild Expo this October 4–7 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This year’s conference will showcase the latest innovations in green design and technology, including full-day tours of prime examples of adaptive reuse in Toronto—Artscape Wychwood Barns, the Distillery District and Evergreen Brick Works.

All three sites exhibit design principles that make the most of local culture and community, while also preserving heritage buildings.

At Artscape Wychwood Barns, Toronto’s historic Wychwood streetcar-repair buildings have been converted into a multifaceted community centre, featuring art galleries and urban agriculture. Another tour will take visitors through the brick-lined streets of Toronto’s famous Distillery District, a collection of old breweries that were transformed into a tourist destination, complete with restored Victorian structures hosting theatres, galleries, restaurants and fashion boutiques.

Although we’ll admit to a little bias, we’re most excited about the tour of Evergreen Brick Works.

Since opening our doors last year, the Brick Works has become an international showcase for urban sustainability and green design, and a vibrant public space—from our farmers’ market and retail garden market, to the teaching kitchen and Chimney Court, our outdoor education and play space.

"Brownfield Remediation" panel of the Green Design exhibit. (Photo: Yuliya Tsoy)

It has taken a decade of work to restore and revitalize this site, and the project came with many unique challenges, including dangerous contamination, unstable structures and even flooding. Our approach was to work with these realities, both positive and negative, and to adapt the site for new uses.

For example, a stormwater management pond collects water from the parking lot, and greenways were built to carry run-off through and under the buildings. The site also features 15 large rainwater cisterns that collect more than four million litres of water from the roofs annually, and provide water for use in low-flow toilets, to irrigate gardens and for cooling purposes.

"Conservation" panel of the Green Design exhibit (Photo: Yuliya Tsoy)

As part of Greenbuild’s full-day tour at the site, visitors will be able to view our brand new Green Design exhibit, a full interpretive display that tells the story of the Brick Works revitalization project—from the first bright idea to every environmental planning and construction detail along the way.

These and other large projects featured at the Greenbuild Expo may seem unattainable for the average Canadian, but the principles of adaptive reuse can be applied at any level. Take any unused space, object or building, and there’s always a way make something new and useful—from creating furniture using salvaged wood to shaping up that old tool shed. All you is need is a little time and creativity.