Retreat on the Main
This major renovation was the first of a two-phase adaptive reuse project on an early 1900s greystone building on Saint-Laurent boulevard, known affectionately as ‘The Main’, which had previously served as a toy store on the ground floor and warehouse on the upper two floors. Our client wanted to restore the building to its original function which had two two-floor apartments above the commercial spaces. This phase also featured the restoration of the building envelope, including the roof, windows, doors, cornice, and replacement of several large stones on the main façade of the building. Extensive work was done to restructure the masonry facade on Saint-Laurent using tie-back rods, steel cables and steel pattress plates. Read more
The 1500-square-foot units are designed as compact apartments composed of five bedrooms, two bathrooms and an office as well as a rooftop terrace that is accessed off the back of the living spaces on the lower floor. Above the main staircase, there is a large skylight that brings light down from the roof level to the center of the living spaces two floors below.
The open-riser staircase in each apartment features solid wood treads that appear to float between the steel plate guardrail and walls. This also allows light to filter down from above and be reflected into the space below. The guard was designed as a ribbon that unfurls from one level to the other and creates a focal piece connecting the two floors.
The second phase of the project (not pictured) was completed in January 2020 and included the replacement of the commercial façade as well as the complete renovation of the ground floor and basement commercial spaces. This work included the excavation of the basement to gain extra height, redo underground plumbing, pouring footings for the new two-floor steel structure, installing a new ventilation and dehumidification system and adding a french drain along the perimeter of the field stone foundation.