Heritage Buildings/Restoration
EGD Glass Receives Award of Merit for St. Michael’s Hospital Chapel
Eve Guinan with Katelyn Marie Poyntz and Kelly Gilbride.
EGD Glass has recieved an Award of Merit in the category of Conservation: Materials, Craftsmanship and Construction from the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals.
EGD’s glazing team worked to restore the 75-year-old stained glass windows that grace the chapel at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. The goal was to maintain the historical integrity of the stained glass by using as much of the original materials as possible. The Chapel’s 10 stained glass windows were originally designed and fabricated by Yvonne Williams in her Toronto design studio in 1939. The windows were made from tiny pieces of fully painted glass.
The renovations began in 2014. A condition survey revealed the stained glass windows were in poor condition. A lack of protective glazing meant the windows had been exposed to the elements over the years. EGD Glass was contracted to provide a full conservation treatment.
EGD Glass removed the windows from their openings before taking rubbings and thorough documentation. The windows were dismantled in our Toronto studio and reconstructed using best practice of conservation principles. The restored windows were reinstalled in their original openings in 2015.
The restoration was covered by the Toronto Star in 2014.
The New EGD Glass Website
EGD Glass is pleased to welcome you to our new website! We have worked to develop a new, mobile-friendly website to better serve the needs of our clients.
The new site will allow you to learn more about our company, our services and how we can work with you to achieve your goals. EGD Glass proudly offer our clients an individually tailored service throughout all stages of planning, design, fabrication and installation, depending on what your needs may be.
Visit the new EGD Glass Shop to browse our selection of reclaimed stained glass windows. Do you see something you like? Use our built in request a price feature to find out the cost of one or more reclaimed windows.
What do you think of our new site? Let us know in the comments below or send us an email.
Season’s Greetings!
EGD Glass wishes you a joyous holiday season and best wishes for 2016.
The window featured in this holiday card can be found at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Russian Orthodox Cathedral, on Henry street in Toronto. This window was restored by EGD Glass in 2014.
EGD Glass will be closed from December 23, 2015 to January 4, 2016.
EGD Glass Receives Award of Merit from Heritage Toronto
EGD Glass has received an Award of Merit in the William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship category in the 41st Heritage Toronto Award ceremony held on October 13, 2015.
EGD Glass was recognized along side Takashi Tsuji Architects, William N. Greer, Heritage Mills Historic Building Conservation Inc., and Sonterlan Corp., as part of the team contributing to the restoration and conservation of the Toronto Bell Cote. The restoration of the Toronto Bell Cote was undertaken by Sukyo Mahikari Canada.
The William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship awards recognize owners who have undertaken projects to restore or adapt buildings or structures that have been in existence for 40 years or more, or are included on the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties.
The Toronto Bell Cote is the only wood framed church in Toronto and possesses a rich local history. The building was on the verge of collapse in 2010 when renovations began to restore and preserve it. EGD Glass was called upon to restore the damaged stained glass windows.
The team completed the renovation, which also included a new foundation and basement, steel framing and wood restoration through out, in 2014.
Originally built in 1895, the Toronto Bell Cote was once known as Holy Trinity Anglican Church, located in Malton, ON. After falling into disuse, the building was relocated to it’s current site in 1923 and renamed St. Matthias Anglican Church. The congregation of St. Matthias relocated in 1957 and the building was later designated a heritage site by the City of Toronto in 2003.
120th Anniversary of the Toronto Bell Cote: October 18
Celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Toronto Bell Cote, a local heritage site, on Sunday, October 18 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. An event will be held on site at 691 Scarlett Rd., at the corner of Scarlett Road and Kingdom Street.
The event will be marked with activities every hour, on the hour beginning at 12 p.m., including a talk on the history of the building, a presentation detailing the renovation process, and a display of artefacts that trace the building’s history.
The Toronto Bell Cote is the only wood framed church in Toronto and possesses a rich local history. Originally built in 1895, the building was once known as Holy Trinity Anglican Church, located in Malton, ON. After falling into disuse, the building was relocated to it’s current site in 1923 and renamed St. Matthias Anglican Church. The congregation of St. Matthias relocated in 1957 and the building was later designated a heritage site by the City of Toronto in 2003.
Renovations began in 2010 to restore and preserve the deteriorated building. EGD Glass was called upon to restore the damaged stained glass windows.
Conservation and Restoration
After assessing the condition of the stained glass, EGD Glass followed up with the conservation of eight original sash windows. Each panel was dismantled and releaded and some pieces of the painted glass, damaged beyond repair, were replicated. The tryptich window on the east side, which featured three panels, was restored. On the south side, a small Gothic window was restored and moved higher up the wall.
EGD Glass also recommended a secondary glazing to protect the newly restored windows. A traditional wood storm glazing was chosen for being in keeping with the style of the day and meeting the Heritage Toronto Board’s requirements.
Under the guidance of Takashi Tsuji Architects, the entire restoration, which finished in 2014, also included a new foundation and basement, steel framing and wood restoration through out.
Jewels of Light: Creation, Preservation, Appreciation of Stained Glass – June 19-20
EGD Glass will be presenting at Jewels of Light: Creation, Preservation, Appreciation of Stained Glass. The stained glass symposium is being presented by the Association for Preservation Technology and will discuss primary conservation problems encountered when restoring historic stained glass windows.
The symposium will bring together stained glass designers, design and engineering professionals, preservation specialists, and stained glass fabricators. It’s purpose is to educate, inform and encourage collaborative discussions about the creation, reservation and appreciation of stained glass.
Join us from June 19 to 20, 2015 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC.
View the full agenda or register online.
Seasons Greetings!
Merry Christmas & Season’s Greetings!
From EGD Glass
To mark the holiday season, EGD Glass is making a financial contribution to two organizations in need of support this year – Doctors Without Borders and Sistering.
The windows featured in this Christmas card can be viewed in the Chapel at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. The windows were designed and installed by Yvonne Williams and Esther Johnson in 1937. EGD Glass is currently working to restore the windows.
How Do I Choose A Stained Glass Specialist?
Historic glass windows are unique treasures that allow us a rare glimpse into history.
Some historic windows have been subject to careless repairs.
Tragically, many windows have been lost to the devastation of time and improper care. But in the hands of an experienced stained glass specialist these windows can be enjoyed for centuries to come.
Caring for historic glass is an art and care must be taken in choosing the right studio and specialist. But how do you know who has the right skills and knowledge to restore and care for your windows?
We’ve compiled a list of simple ways you can help ensure you’re dealing with a professional.
1) Solicit bids from experienced studios. An accredited conservator-restorer will possess the necessary skills and knowledge to work with your historic windows.
2) A representative will visit you to conduct an on site visual inspection of the window. The studio will them submit a written bid and proposal.
3) Request a list of previous restorations and references from the studio.
A professional will seek to conserve as much of the original window as possible.
4) Follow up with these previous clients and examine the windows listed in the studio’s portfolio. Ask references how well the studio respected their needs, if they fulfilled their contract and if the client was pleased with the overall result.
5) While reviewing your options keep in mind an experienced professional will seek to conserve as much of the original window as possible. Proper restoration will not interfere with the structural or artistic integrity of the window, and can be undone without damage.
6) Restoring historic stained glass is an expensive task – the lowest bid is not necessarily the best buy.
Are you interested in working with EGD Glass on your next glass project? Contact us today to request a proposal.
Stained Glass Restoration at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Toronto
During the spring of 2014 a team from EGD Glass is working to install the north windows at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Toronto. An ongoing restoration of all of the stained glass windows in the church is in process. Stay tuned for more information about the completed restoration.
Stained Glass In America 