Currency Exchange

5 King Street West

Toronto

This project is a renovation and restoration of a 4-storey brick and sandstone building, constructed in 1892 for retail and office use. We were required to stabilize and restore the deteriorating masonry and sandstone components, restore original glazing and wood framing, re-roof the entire building, provide open leasable space on the upper floors, and renovate part of the ground floor for the owner's retail currency exchange.

The design strategy was to insert a large symmetrical bay window into the base of the existing historical building, respecting the building's historical character while maximizing the high visibility demanded by retail use.The result was a glazed storefront contained within a sandstone archway, with two stainless steel entrance canopies; one leading to the currency exchange, the other to the upper storeys.The currency exchange space consists of a high ceilinged public room separated from the administrative office by a wood and steel cash wicket. A wood and steel cheque writing table is treated as a sculptural element within the space. Materials and elements are limited

to reinforce the clarity of the design.