10,000 years ago in the Don Valley near Toronto, the last glacier in the area laid a deposit that formed the foundation, aeons later, for the production of clay bricks in the Don Valley Brickworks. Many of
those bricks formed the basis of old buildings in Toronto. But the Brickworks fell into disuse and ruin with a sole remaining chimney marking the spot of the old heritage site. McGillvray Architects were selected to restore it.
The Chimney, built in about 1890, had serviced three adjacent downdraft kilns. The shaft had been deteriorating through the years and had become a pigeon roost! Significant cracking appeared on the east and
west elevations and it was found to be leaning almost 43 inches to the south and a bit to the west. The corrective action was to stitch two sides together using the Cavity Lock Systems Ltd (CLS) CINTEC Anchoring System. The CLS CINTEC Canada Company
had had previous experience in similar projects obtaining excellent results in what is truly corrective surgery on buildings. The restoration work also included substantial repointing and some brick replacement.
Chimney Restoration in Progress
Architects: McGillvray Architects
Structural Engineers: Halsall Associates Ltd
Contractor: Ontario Restoration Ltd
CINTEC Approved Contractor: General Concrete and Cutting Ltd
Clients: Metro Toronto & Region Conservation Authority who said:
"Over a year ago, when we first addressed the restoration and stabilisation of the chimney, we could not have forseen the level of effort and commitment required to complete this task. However, the success
acheived over these last few months has clearly demonstrated that the product was well worth the effort."
