Location
Paris, ON
Size
35,000 sf
Collaborators
Shoalts & Zaback Architects
Client
County of Brant Public Library
Status
In design
Envisioned as a cultural cornerstone for County of Brant residents, the restoration of this building holds paramount importance. DPAI was commissioned to craft designs for the new Main Branch Library, alongside overseeing the comprehensive restoration of the building’s Gothic Revival-style elements and Opera Hall. The core team comprises architects, heritage restoration specialists, Indigenous relations experts, acousticians, sustainability specialists, and interior designers. Emphasizing the significance of reconciliation, the project aims to restore irreplaceable heritage features while striving for Net Zero Energy status.
The Bawcutt Centre, formerly known as the Paris Old Town Hall, is a nationally designated heritage site and represents the oldest Gothic Revival-style public building in Canada – and possibly North America.
The project timeline spans from early 2023 to the culmination in late 2025. Notable progress includes the completion of initial Construction Management (CM) packages, focusing on the demolition of non-heritage structures and safeguarding the remaining heritage elements from deterioration. The forthcoming phase entails the preparation of a tender package for heritage restoration and repair, marking the next significant milestone in the project’s advancement.
The second floor space includes the restored opera hall which will serve as programmable and rentable space for the library.
