9 July 2009
What's Old is New Again
Canadian Pacific Railway John Street Roundhouse - 1970
Photographer unknown.
Toronto Ontario - The John Street Roundhouse
Revitalization project had its grand opening yesterday, with a newly refurbished turntable and features a
unique 40,000 square foot Leon's Furniture store, the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre, and adjacent Roundhouse Park.
John Street Roundhouse coaling tower with Leon's Furniture
sign - July 2009 Photographer unknown.
It's located across the street from the CN Tower and Rogers Centre. Owned by the City of Toronto, the Roundhouse, which was built in
1929-31, is a 32 bay semi-circular structure formerly used by Canadian Pacific to service steam passenger
locomotives using nearby Toronto Union Station. It was declared a National Historic Site in 1990. In 1999, bays 1 to 11 were leased to
Steam Whistle Brewery while the remaining 21 bays were unused and dormant.
Artist's conception of the John Street yard with the Canadian
Pacific hotel Royal York in the background
during the terminal's heyday.
"The new John Street Roundhouse is a great example of what can be accomplished when respect for our heritage is combined with
adaptive reuse of an iconic building," said Mayor David Miller. "This partnership between the City of Toronto, Roundhouse
Development Corporation, Leon's, and the Toronto Railway Heritage Association has resulted in an important attraction in our downtown,
complete with its own park." It must have been quite a challenge to transform an 80 year old, unheated, uninsulated, train shed
into an environmentally sustainable, LEEDS-certified, contemporary commercial space without compromising the heritage
character.
Toronto Mayor David Miller speech at opening
ceremony.
foto loco painting
The Toronto Railway Heritage Centre includes bays 15, 16, and 17 of the Roundhouse, the 12,000 square foot Machine Shop, most of
Roundhouse Park, and the turntable area, including the 32 radial tracks. The Roundhouse turntable is 120 feet long, in order to
accommodate Canadian Pacific Railway's largest passenger steam locomotives. It's one of the longest ever built in Canada.
Canadian National 6213 rests on the John Street
turntable.
The John Street Roundhouse project is an example of a successful, mixed-use, adaptive re-use of a nationally
significant, industrial heritage building. The $25 million rejuvenation of the Roundhouse area includes the rebuilding of the park,
the restoration of the ancillary buildings and towers, the continuing operation of Steamwhistle Brewery, the restoration of the museum
space, and the adaptive re-use to accommodate the 100-year-old Canadian retailer Leon's.
Leon's adaptive re-use.
"Leon's Roundhouse project is part of the continual evolution of Leon's, catering to the diversity of our customers," says
Terry Leon, President and CEO, Leon's Furniture Ltd. "Some downtowners are already shopping at one of our suburban locations but
many others simply can't get there. As a result, Leon's Roundhouse offers ease of access without a car - which is both convenient and
environmental - and an affordable, stylish furniture destination that prides itself on offering good value, good selection, and great
service."
While shopping at Leon's, customers can take in the gorgeous curvature of the building with its soaring 34-foot-high
ceilings, an abundance of brick, restored Douglas fir columns, and a sweeping wall of glass, offering an abundance of natural light.
This unique space will also feature an in-store cafe, and will host special events such as celebrity chef demonstrations
as well as interior design and home entertainment seminars.
Leon's adaptive re-use.
While not yet ready for demonstration at the opening, the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre is to include a
passenger-carrying miniature railway powered by a steam locomotive constructed during 2009 in the Roundhouse Machine
Shop.
Here's what the roundhouse looked like during construction
last March.
The roundhouse originally took up 16 acres of property in the
area below Front Street.
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