Canada Maltings administrative office in Toronto scheduled for renovations
A project jointly funded by the governments of Canada and Ireland aims to convert a disused heritage building on Toronto’s waterfront into a multiuse community cultural arts and conference centre.
More than $4.5 million in funding from the organizations and the Canada Ireland Foundation will go to convert the historic Canada Maltings administrative office in Eireann Quay into a new home for the Canada Ireland Foundation.
Named the Corleck, the facility will host flexible space for the Irish community and other local arts organizations. It will include multiuse assembly spaces, a retracting stage with audiovisual capacity; a reception space, gallery and museum; spaces for offices, conferences and classrooms; support room space; commercial kitchen; and a roof terrace for assembly.
The design and renovations will preserve the art deco style of the original building, while also enhancing its thermal and acoustic performance. A new roof, upgraded insulation, and restoration of the windows will help reduce heat loss. Replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the building with in-floor heating, new ductwork, and a new heat pump system will also improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Finally, wiring through the building will be upgraded and lighting fixtures will be replaced with energy efficient LEDs.
The improvements are expected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by an estimated 28.4 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 19.5 tonnes annually.
"In restoring the historic Canada Maltings office to its previous splendour, we have taken great pains to ensure not only the purity of its Art Deco design, but a conviction to enhancing the building’s sustainability for years to come,” said William Peat, Executive Director, Canada Ireland Foundation. “This is all in keeping with the Canada Ireland Foundation’s vision of preserving the past, celebrating the present and ensuring the future for Canada-Ireland relations."
The federal government is investing more than $4.5 million in the project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program; the Canada Ireland Foundation is contributing more than $7.1 million through various sources.
The Government of Ireland is also contributing a grant of $2 million as part of the Global Ireland 2025 strategy to double the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint, including in the cultural domain.
The Corleck Building is named after a carved limestone head found in Ireland in 1855.