Kingston heritage sites recognized with national awards

Two heritage building reconstruction projects have been recognized by the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) through their 2020 Annual Awards program.

The awards celebrate preservation, restoration and conservation work in areas including archaeology, architecture, engineering, craftsmanship, education and planning, according to a release from the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals, dated Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.

A Kingston student centre at Queen’s University and an Italian villa style house constructed in the 1840s, a Parks Canada National Historic Site, are among the winners of the award which recognizes professional excellence in heritage conservation.

“We are thrilled to congratulate the people behind this year’s award-winning projects,” said Elijah Karlo Sabadlan, Co-Chair of the CAHP Awards Committee. “These awards showcase the outstanding heritage conservation work that is happening across Canada, promote the importance of protecting our historic sites, and introduce the public to these places that they may not be able to visit as a result of the pandemic.”

Queen’s University’s Mitchell Hall won the Award of Merit in the Conservation: Engineering category for how Michael Park (RJC Engineers) and André Scheinman (Heritage Preservation Consultant) incorporated the original 1930s limestone building into the newly constructed Innovation and Student Wellness Centre, according to the release. The project included the restoration of the original exterior stonework walls and historic wooden windows and doors.

Bellevue House was recognized with the Award of Merit in the Small and Lovely category. Dima Cook (EVOQ Architecture Inc.), Eric Stewart (Heritage Plaster Conservation Services) and Jean-Michel Carrière (Adjeleian Allen Rubeli Limited) restored the Italian Villa style house, a National Historic Site.

The team preserved the building’s plasterwork and repaired the masonry while conducting much needed repairs and upgrades to the structure. For more details on the restoration process, read our previous coverage here.

CAHP is a national organization that recognizes and represents the country’s leading heritage conservation professionals. According to the release, an independent jury of experts in heritage conservation from across the field and country select the winners of the CAHP’s Annual Awards.

“As we continue to celebrate and inspire each other, our challenge moving forward is to address the gap in recognizing intangible cultural heritage, Indigenous cultural heritage, and the legacy of colonial policies and practices in heritage protection” Sabadlan said.