19
1884 – 2013 The John Street Roundhouse THE JOHN STREET ROUNDHOUSE – AN HERITAGE SITE
1884 – 2013
The John Street Roundhouse
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
1926 1926 1926 1930s 1930s mid-1960s
1974 1974 1974 1993 early 1990s
ROUNDHOUSE SITE EVOLUTION
The City of Toronto acquired the Roundhouse and what has become Roundhouse Park, as part of land deal and it remained vacant until the mid 1990’s. Designated as a national heritage site in 1991, it was described as, “arguably the finest surviving roundhouse in Canada.”
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
2 3
IBI
GR
OU
P
2012 – The John Street Roundhouse and Park - a restored heritage icon, home to successful enterprise, and a growing rail museum, embedded in a new urban open space, surrounded by the intensification of the growing city.
IBI
GR
OU
P
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
4 5
188418841884, LOOKING EAST ALONG THE WATERFRONT TOWARDS THE FIRST UNION STATION.
IN 1897 THE CPR CONSTRUCTED THE FIRST JOHN STREET ROUNDHOUSE ON LANDFILL IN THE CENTRE OF THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF THE HARBOUR.
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
6 7
IBI
GR
OU
P
19199199191919 – THE FIRST ROUNDHOUSE IS AT THE TOP OF THIS IMAGE (28). THE CREATION OF THE NEW HARBOURFRONT IS DEFINED BY THE DOCK-WALL EDGE (16) AND THE DREDGING AND FILLING HAS BEGUN.
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
8 99
IBI
GR
OU
P
1920S – BY THE MID-1920’S THE LANDFILLING WAS COMPLETE AND THE FIRST JOHN STREET ROUNDHOUSE WAS SERVICING ENGINES FOR THE EXTENSIVE CPR RAIL FLEET.
1926 – THE UNION STATION GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT WAS UNDERWAY. TO SEPARATE RAIL AND VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. THIS IMMENSE ENGINEERING WORK REQUIRED 2.6 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF FILL TO RAISE THE RAILWAY EMBANKMENT18’. IN THIS PHOTO THE LAKESHORE RETAINING HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED AND THE ROUNDHOUSE IS ABOUT TO BE BURIED.
1929 – THE ROUNDHOUSE IS FINISHED AND THE INTERIOR WHITEWASHING IS JUST BEING COMPLETED. THE WHITEWASH HELPED TO ENHANCE THE LIGHT LEVELS TO IMPROVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE ROUNDHOUSE.
1920S – NOTE LAKESHORE BOULEVARD
IN THE FOREGROUND
AND THE AREA BETWEEN
THAT AND THE ROUNDHOUSE
1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’s1920S – NOTE 1920’s1920S – NOTE LAKESHORE 1920’sLAKESHORE BOULEVARD 1920’sBOULEVARD
IN THE 1920’sIN THE FOREGROUND 1920’sFOREGROUND
AND THE AREA 1920’sAND THE AREA BETWEEN 1920’sBETWEEN
THAT AND THE 1920’sTHAT AND THE 1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’sTHAT AND THE 1920’sTHAT AND THE 1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’s1920’sTHAT AND THE 1920’sTHAT AND THE
1928–1929 THE SECOND ROUNDHOUSE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND PARTS OF THE FIRST ONE CAN BE SEEN ON THE LEFT AS IT WAS PARTIALLY DEMOLISHED AND BURIED.
1929 – THE ROUNDHOUSE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
1920’s1920’s1920’sT
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
1920’sT
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1920’sT
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1920’sT
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1920’s1920’sT
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1920’sT
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1920’sT
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1920’s1920’s1920’sIBI
GR
OU
P 1920’s
101010101010 111111
1930 – AN IDEALIZED, HAND-TINTED POSTCARD VIEW OF THE ROUNDHOUSE AND CITY.
1930930930
1930 – A PHOTO OF THE SAME SCENE SHOWING THE REALITY OF COAL-FIRED STEAM ENGINES AND THE SCALE OF THE RAILWAYS WITH THE RH SERVICING 60 ENGINES A DAY.
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
121212 131313
IBI
GR
OU
P
IBI
GR
OU
P
IBI
GR
OU
P
1974 – THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE CONSTRUCTION OF CN TOWER FOUNDATION IN 1974. THE TOWER WAS COMPLETED IN 1976 AND WAS THE TALLEST FREE-STANDING STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD AT THAT TIME. BOTH THE CN AND CP ROUNDHOUSES CAN BEEN SEEN. RAIL TRAFFIC WAS DIMINISHING AS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT STARTED TO CHANGE.
EARLY 1960S – IN THIS IMAGE THE HARBOUR IS STILL ACTIVE, THE GARDINER EXPRESSWAY HAS FINALLY BEEN COMPLETED AND THE JOHN STREET
ROUNDHOUSE AND RAIL YARDS ARE STILL ACTIVE.
ROYAL YORK HOTEL
1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s1970’s
IBI
GR
OU
P
1970’s
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
1414141970’s141970’s141970’s141970’s 151515
11119949949949949941994 – IN 1994, THROUGH A LAND DEAL BETWEEN THE CITY, CPR AND THE MTCC, THE CITY GOT THE RH AND 9 ACRES OF LAND AROUND IT AND THE MTCC GOT TO BUILD AN EXTENSION TO THEIR FACILITIES AND PARKING, UNDERNEATH THE RH, (MTCC SOUTH BUILDING, BY B+H ARCHITECTS)
1992–1994
IN 1991 THE FEDERAL HERITAGE SITES AND MONUMENT BOARD OF CANADA DESIGNATED THE ROUNDHOUSE AS HAVING NATIONAL HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE – “ ARGUABLY THE FINEST SURVIVING
ROUNDHOUSE IN CANADA.”
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
EIB
I G
RO
UP
IB
I G
RO
UP
IB
I G
RO
UP
16161616161616 171717
1995199519951995 CONSTRUCTION START
1995 – THE RH BAYS 1-10 HAVE BEEN DISASSEMBLED AND STORED OFF-SITE. THE WATER TOWER HAS BEEN MOVED AND EXCAVATION FOR THE SOUTH BUILDING IS UNDERWAY.
1995 – THE COAL AND SAND TOWER WAS RELOCATED USING NASA ROCKET MOVING TECHNOLOGY. THE DISASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST 10 BAYS OR ALMOST 40,000 SF OF THE RH ( BY HOTSON BAKKER ARCHITECTS)
AND THE DEMOLITION OF SOME OTHER RAIL STRUCTURES AND EXCAVATION BEGAN.18
19951995IBI
GR
OU
P 19951995
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
1995T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1995T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1995T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
199519
19961996THE MTCC SOUTH BUILDING STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE.
THE MTCC ROOF IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AS THE LAST PORTIONS OF THE PARKING STRUCTURE ARE FINISHED.19961996IB
I G
RO
UP
199619961996T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1996T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
199620 21
ROUNDHOUSE PARK (ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY LANDPLAN) IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE MTCC ROOF, THE WATER TOWER HAS BEEN MOVED BACK AND THE PARKING
STRUCTURE IS ALMOST COMPLETE.
1996199619961996PARKING STRUCTURE ENTRY
IBI
GR
OU
P
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
22 23
19971997REASSEMBLY OF BAYS 1—10 ( HOTSON BAKKER ARCHITECTS) THE TIMBER STRUCTURE WAS
ERECTED AND A NEW WOOD ROOF DECK WAS INSTALLED. THE BRICK WALLS WERE RE-ASSEMBLED AND THE NEW, REPLICATED WOOD WINDOWS WITH STORM SASH WERE INSTALLED.
REASSEMBLY OF BAYS 1—10, THE INTERIOR WAS COMPLETED WITH A NEW, MILL DECK ROOF AND CONCRETE SLAB FLOOR. DAMAGED ENGINE DOORS WERE REHABILITATED OR REPLICATED AS REQUIRED.
THE EXTERIOR OF BAYS 11-32 WAS RESTORED AS WELL.
THE REASSEMBLED AND RESTORED RH WAS UNOCCUPIED UNTIL STEAM WHISTLE BREWERY LEASED BAYS 1-11 FROM THE CITY IN 1999.24
IBI
GR
OU
P
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
25
1991991999999STEAM WHISTLE LEASED BAY 1–10 IN 1999 AND BEGAN THE PRODUCTION OF BEER AND HOSTING EVENTS IN THEIR ‘GREAT ROOM’.
199199IBI
GR
OU
P 199199199
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
199T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
1992726
2004 – THE EVOLVING URBAN CONTEXT
A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY, THE STATE BUILDING GROUP AND LEON’S FURNITURE RESULTED IN THE REMAINING INTERIOR, 60,000 SF OF THE RH BEING PLANNED TO BE REHABILITATED, RESTORED AND REUSED.
THE CLERESTORY CATWALK WAS RESTORED AND USED TO CARRY CONDUIT AND
DUCTWORK TO SERVICE THE ENTIRE 60,000 SQ.FT. OF THE NEW LEON’S.
THE ARTIFACTS, TURNTABLE TRUSS AND STORED
BUILDINGS, LIKE THIS ONE – CABIN D – WERE MOVED
OUT OF THE RH SO THAT THE INTERIOR REHABILITATION
WORK COULD BEGIN.
CONCRETE BLOCK PARTITIONS WERE REMOVED TO RESTORE THE ORIGINAL, CONTIGUOUS INTERIOR SPACE.
2004200420042004 – THE EVOLVING URBAN CONTEXT20042004 – THE EVOLVING URBAN CONTEXT 08080808THE ARTIFACTS, TURNTABLE 08THE ARTIFACTS, TURNTABLE TRUSS AND STORED 08TRUSS AND STORED
BUILDINGS, LIKE THIS ONE 08BUILDINGS, LIKE THIS ONE – CABIN D – WERE MOVED 08– CABIN D – WERE MOVED
OUT OF THE RH SO THAT THE 08OUT OF THE RH SO THAT THE INTERIOR REHABILITATION 08INTERIOR REHABILITATION
WORK COULD BEGIN.08WORK COULD BEGIN.
29
20042004IBI
GR
OU
P 200420042004
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
2004T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
200428
20092009THE COMPLETED LEON’S FURNITURE SHOWROOM.
THE OPEN, RESTORED ENGINE DOORS AND
THE INTERIOR GLASS WALL GIVE LIGHT TO THE
INTERIOR, CONSERVE ENERGY AND PROVIDE
VIEWS TO THE CITY SKYLINE. THE TURNTABLE COURTYARD HAS 32 SETS
OF RADIAL TRACKS TO DISPLAY ROLLING STOCK.
THE OPENING CEREMONY - MAYOR DAVID MILLER CALLED THE ROUNDHOUSE, “ ONE OF THE BEST CANADIAN EXAMPLES OF AN ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF AN HISTORICAL BUILDING.” AND COUNCILOR VAUGHAN CALLED THE REVITALIZED RH A “TERRIFIC GIFT TO THE CITY”
30
200920092009IBI
GR
OU
P 20092009
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
E
2009T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
200931
2010201020102010201020102010 THE DON STATION BEING MOVED TO ITS PERMANENT LOCATION IN ROUNDHOUSE PARK, WHERE IT WAS COMPLETELY RESTORED.
THE RESTORED CABIN D.
THE FOUR RESTORED RAILWAY BUILDINGS AS PART OF THE MUSEUM INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM WITHIN THE RH PARK.
THE TORONTO RAIL HERITAGE CENTRE MINATURE STEAM TRAIN
201020102010IBI
GR
OU
P 2010IB
I G
RO
UP
20102010201020102010T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
2010T
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
201032 33
JOHN STREET ROUNDHOUSE HIGH LINE PLAZA
JOHN STREET ROUNDHOUSE HIGH LINE PLAZA
FUTURE PROJECT PHASES – HIGH LINE PLAZA
THE FINAL PHASE (PHASE 2) OF THE ROUNDHOUSE PARK LANDSCAPE SEES A NEARBY HYDRO TRANSFORMER STATION RELOCATED BENEATH THE NEW HIGH LINE PLAZA AND RAIL GARDEN PUBLIC GREENSPACE. THE FORMER MACHINE SHOP HAS BEEN CAREFULLY DISMANTLED TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEW TORONTO HYDRO COPELAND STATION, UNDERNEATH AND WILL BE RESTORED TO A BETTER STATE AS PART OF THIS PHASE.
The John Street Roundhouse and Park Master Plan20132013201320132013The John Street Roundhouse and Park Master Plan2013The John Street Roundhouse and Park Master PlanIBI
GR
OU
P
TH
E J
OH
N
ST
RE
ET
RO
UN
DH
OU
SE
– A
N H
ER
ITA
GE
SIT
ET
HE
JO
HN
S
TR
EE
T R
OU
ND
HO
US
E –
AN
HE
RIT
AG
E S
ITE
3534
Photographs are from a variety of sources and some generous individuals that include the following:
Norm BettsDerek BolesDan McAlisterChris RoadhouseDon LoucksSteam WhistleTRHAThe City of Toronto Archives
Awards
2014 CSLA (The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects) National Citation award – Design
2011 Heritage Toronto Award of Excellence, John Street Roundhouse and Ancillary Buildings and Roundhouse Park – Adaptive Re-use
2010 CUI (Canadian Urban Institute) Brownie awards Category 4 – Excellence in Project Development, Building Scale
2009 CAHP (Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals) awards – Adaptive Reuse of a Heritage Building Award
