Federal Building, Toronto, Ontario

Originally designed by architect Charles Howard Crane in 1923 the Federal Building at 85 Richmond Street West is one of Toronto’s few remaining first-generation “skyscrapers.” However, many fine details had been neglected over the years and conservation work was needed. Working with +VG Architects, H&L replaced tiled spandrels between the first and second-floor windows with new stamped metal panels designed to reflect the original design and recreated the metal panels between the top two floors. It was assumed that the panels would be stamped metal, however we discovered that the panels were far too detailed to stamp. In fact, each dental element had to be fabricated individually and then applied to the panel.
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Brosnaham Building, Pensacola, Florida

The Broshnan Building is a fine example of a type of sheet metal facade made popular by the Meskers Companies in the 19th century. Heather & Little replaced portions of the torn sheet metal façade, repaired the metal cornice, and restored decorative elements using sheet zinc for some of the more intricate pressed metal elements and galvanized steel sheet metal.

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Protect and beautify

With over 90 years’ experience in the sheet metal fabrication industry, Heather & Little has worked on some of the most intricate roof cornices on many of North America’s historically significant buildings. Cornices helps to protect a building from the debilitating effects of rainwater, snow, and ice, and can be simple like a projecting ledge that caps the top edge of a wall; or elaborate including dentil mouldings, egg & dart, carved scallops, scrolls, or spirals. Using both modern and traditional fabrication methods, we work with the customary sheet metals employed in cornices, including copper, lead coated copper, zinc, stainless steel or galvanized steel. While it is possible to choose from our library of previously recreated cornice, such as the Meskers sheet-metal facade and cornice we fabricated for the Brosnaham Building in Pensacola, FL, we always recommend whenever possible that restoration is faithful to the historic record.

Preservation Consulting

And if you are looking for a second opinion on your project or have a particularly complex issue that needs a fresh eye, we’re here for that too. Tackling tricky challenges is our specialty and we welcome the opportunity to provide consulting advice, with the same exacting attention to detail we bring to all our commissions.
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