Giaimo

Giaimo recently reimagined 4 squash courts that were closed and abandoned for the last 20 years. Located in an existing 120-unit apartment building in Scarborough, our goal was to transform these derelict spaces into vibrant, user-friendly, community-focused amenities: https://lnkd.in/eanwXebE

Congratulations to Giaimo's Associate Mitchell May on becoming a Certified Passive House Designer (CPHD)!

This month we had the pleasure of attending the joint National Trust for Canada, The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), Canadian Assoc. of Heritage Professionals | Assoc. canadienne d'experts-conseils en patrimonie, Indigenous Heritage Circle conference in Montreal. From presenting our ongoing research on large-scale demolition and high carbon sites in Toronto and learning from sessions on the intersections of social justice, climate action, and heritage, to attending CAHP Board meetings and the ICOMOS Canada workshop, our team (Mitchell May, Ria Al-Ameen , Sara Shemirani , and Stephanie Mah, CAHP) were kept busy. Amazing to connect with so many people doing inspiring work across North America; a huge thank you to all the organizers that made this conference possible! #APTNTMontreal2024

Had such a great time presenting as part of this session on Urban Resilience at the #APTNTMontreal2024 Conference! My presentation focussed on planning regulations in the City of Toronto, and their interaction with the conservation of some important features of the built form of the city, looking both at impacts on carbon footprints, and the cultural life of city streets. Thank you to our session chair Leila Hamroun, and to my fellow presenters Emma Meek, Fabrice Doutriaux, Mark Elsworthy, and Lara Maalouf for such an engaging session!

It was a real pleasure connecting with CAHP directors and members during this year’s conference in Montreal, co-organized by National Trust for Canada, The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), Canadian Assoc. of Heritage Professionals | Assoc. canadienne d'experts-conseils en patrimonie, Indigenous Heritage Circle. Serving on the board is a invaluable opportunity—not only to contribute to CAHP’s growth, but also to learn from the incredible expertise and insights of my fellow board members. Always grateful for that!

Just returned from the National Trust – APT Joint Conference 2024 in Montreal, and I’m leaving with new insights shaping my approach to heritage conservation and adaptive reuse. I had the chance to connect with industry professionals and explore exciting solutions from exhibitors—everything from metal fabrication to brick tinting products. It was a great opportunity to engage with the latest tools (like seeing Brique Recyc in person) and trends in the field and to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face in preserving our tangible and intangible heritage. Looking forward to applying what I’ve learned and continuing the conversation with those I met. Thank you to the organizers National Trust for Canada, The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT), Canadian Assoc. of Heritage Professionals | Assoc. canadienne d'experts-conseils en patrimonie, and Indigenous Heritage Circle for an inspiring event! #APTNTMontreal2024 #HeritageConservation  #AdaptiveReuse #ClimateResilience

Giaimo Associate Mitchell May will be presenting research on "High Carbon Sites: Examining the Impact of Successive Development in Toronto" at the upcoming National Trust for Canada and The Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) Conference on November 16, 2024, in Montreal, as part of session CS3.4: Urban Resilience. In Toronto, we're witnessing demolition proposals for numerous 10+ storey urban towers. This premature loss of towers results in "high-carbon sites", raising significant environmental sustainability concerns, as well as concern for the concept of heritage value as we begin to lose our mid-late-century architecture before it has a chance to be called “heritage”. While there has been a focus on improving the operational energy of the new buildings replacing those demolished, significantly less focus has been placed on embodied carbon, landfill waste, and the relationship of this successive demolition-development cycle in relation to the climate crisis. So, what has led to this creation of the "high-carbon site"? This research examines large-scale demolition proposals in the context of the restrictive policies that influence their existence. At the same time, the impact of repealed regulations – such as the recent removal of parking minimums – is already beginning to allow for greater heritage conservation in the city, despite not being a heritage-specific policy. This lends credence to the idea that alternative solutions to encourage retrofit and conservation are needed, ones that view heritage not as a siloed field but in relation to larger urban planning policy. https://lnkd.in/eJhM55mr

We're honoured to receive a 2024 Heritage Toronto, Built Heritage Category, Adaptive Reuse Award for The Hermant Building Transformation. The transformation of this art deco office tower included extensive exterior restorations, interior base building upgrades and retrofit, and 90,000 sq.ft. of commercial tenant renovations. With reuse at the core of the project, the Hermant Building Transformation is a case study in heritage conservation as climate action. The approach inherently leverages the buildings embodied carbon, and all interventions sought to minimize waste. From the rehabilitation of the original steel windows, to the tenant fitout standard developed to guide future renovations and act as proactive conservation guidelines, the project aims to reduce waste – now, and in the future.  https://lnkd.in/eJ8zNDBj Project Partners Owner – HNR Properties Limited Project Lead/Prime Architect/Heritage Architect – Giaimo (Joey Giaimo, OAA, MRAIC, CAHP, Mitchell May) Mechanical and Electrical – Loring Consulting Engineers, Inc. Structural – Engineering Link Heritage Contractor – Colonial Building Restoration Construction Manager – Walton GC

Did you know you can regrade salvaged lumber!? Or that you can cut your energy bill by 80% by just upgrading airtightness!? Or that developing net zero communities makes economic sense!? If you missed our panel hosted by AZURE Media, don’t worry, you can find us here and elsewhere. Ask us, Giaimo, Ouroboros Deconstruction, or TAS_Impact about circularity anytime 🤙

It was an honour to participate at the AZURE Media conference on Climate Change Mitigation in Architecture and Design last week. Our founder Meredith Moore shared the stage with Robert Raynor of TAS_Impact, Kurtis Chen of Make Good, and Joey Giaimo, OAA, MRAIC, CAHP of Giaimo, to talk about the need for a shift from linear thinking to circular systems, where REUSE becomes first priority. It's so inspiring to be surrounded by colleagues who are committed to the concept of reuse at the heart of the circular economy. Thanks to all of our fellow panelists for your contributions to this important movement!