Architects are sometimes called upon to secure heritage buildings. By “securing,” we mean carrying out the necessary work to prevent a wall—or an entire building—from collapsing. In some cases, loose stones or bricks must be stabilized to mitigate risks to public safety. These buildings are often abandoned by their owners and remain unoccupied for many years. Neglected and left without maintenance, they inevitably deteriorate.

Securing interventions on heritage buildings generally involve consolidating the building envelope or its structure. The technical nature of these interventions varies depending on the severity of the situation. In some cases, it may be necessary to dismantle and rebuild masonry walls, repoint joints, improve waterproofing, redo exterior renderings, or introduce new localized structural elements into the existing structure.

Without a clear long-term vision or a defined requalification objective to ensure the building’s longevity, such interventions remain temporary and are sometimes poorly suited to the building’s future use.

Lack of funding, the absence of plans, or the lack of a clear conservation vision from public authorities regarding built heritage all contribute to this growing tendency to focus on securing buildings rather than fully requalifying them.

Requalifying built heritage not only restores heritage buildings but also ensures their continued use and maintenance for years to come. Built heritage allows us to celebrate and pass on our shared history to future generations, while also helping reduce environmental impacts associated with the ongoing cycle of demolition and new construction.

The former Craig Pumping Station is a recent example that was the subject of an ideas competition organized by Héritage Montréal. The competition sought to define a requalification strategy for the site, alongside the necessary consolidation work.

Another example is the former Dow Brewery, located at the corner of Peel and Notre-Dame streets. Securing measures were implemented on the building envelope, including anchored mesh systems installed across the masonry to prevent dislocation risks. New academic spaces for ÉTS are currently being considered for the site.

Finally, the Nouvelles-Casernes in Old Québec provide yet another relevant example. Consolidation work is underway to stabilize the complex. These interventions are being carried out by the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec, although the future use of the building has yet to be determined—hopefully in a way that aligns with the conservation efforts already undertaken.

Photo credits:

Ancienne station de pompage Craig, 2017, photo de Denis Tremblay, Parcours riverain - Ville de Montréal, flickr

Nouvelles-Casernes, 2018, projet de consolidation phase 1 par STGM, photo par CCNQ, Alexandre Zacharie