96 Grand

This former foundry, prominently located at the corner of the highly anticipated Gaslight District redevelopment, has new life as a leased office and higher education space. This two-storey stone and masonry L-shaped building on Grand Avenue benefits from many tall original windows, but the historic building also presented challenges due different eras of construction and the central entrance from the parking lot being located in the ‘knuckle’ of the two wings. To address these challenges, Martin Simmons Sweers peeled back the layers of renovations to reinforce the structure, install modern HVAC systems and an elevator, and repaired the masonry to allow the historic elements to shine while also subtly incorporating modern accessibility requirements. The central entrance was delineated by creating a double-height space and adding light, whimsical way-finding elements at the exterior entrance, through concrete columns and steel framing.

Now the building is home to offices, incubators for emerging local businesses, and programs for Conestoga College.