That look of pride is all too familiar to Phil, a proud Londoner for close to 30 years.  “When I was a boy, living in Elmira, I took woodshop in grade 8,” he says.  “Everybody did.  No big deal.”  He leans forward, his voice falls a bit as he describes the beginning of what would become a lifelong passion.  “I decided to build my dad a triangular shaped foot stool for Father’s Day,” he says.  He smiles as the memory comes flooding back.  “I drew the plans and laid it out, I even had the girls in Home Ec teach me how to sew so I could put a nice little cushion on top.”  Phil describes the look on his father’s face when he presented him with that footstool and it’s easy to see where this love of woodworking, of accomplishing something with his own hands began.  “You know, he still has it somewhere,” he says.  “Even after all these years.”

Phil took that love of working with his hands and as a young man, paved his way across our nation.  From cutting out switchbacks up the mountains of B.C. to fixing boats on the rocky shores of the East Coast, he’s always taken enormous pride in his accomplishments.  “I take a great interest in everything that I do,” he remarks.  “I love to learn and then I love to pass it on.”  That’s exactly what he’s doing each day at the Red Antiquities Building project.  “If these guys want to learn, I’ll teach them,” he says.  “I can be strict, sure, but it’s because I want them to give me one hundred percent.”  He describes the tremendous opportunity this particular project has given him: “I’ve worked on heritage projects before,” he says. “Blackfriars bridge, heritage homes on Dufferin street, I love the fact that you can take an old building and bring it back to the way it was in the beginning. It’s a labour of love.  It really is.”   

Yet, make no mistake, according to Phil this building is a very different project with a steep learning curve.  “It’s not a new construction nor is it a renovation or a restoration.  It’s a combination of everything, really,” he says.  “These guys working with me are getting the best training there is. Hands down.”

Walking past the job site, it’s easy to tell which one is Phil.  With the yellow hard hat, steel toed boots, rough exterior, he’d be easily cast as Construction Man #2 in any TV movie of the week.  But, underneath the hat, he’s a devoted family man, married for over 20 years. He glows with pride when describing his two almost grown kids who are busy carving out lives of their own right here in the Forest City.  “I’m also an avid reader,” he says. “I’ll read just about anything.” He’s also a proud Legion member and definitely knows his way around the kitchen.  “I do all my own canning,” he says “Pickles, relishes, jams, you name it!”  Again, Phil brings us back to that passion for creating something with his own hands.  This is no doubt what makes him happiest.  “Anything you build, anything you make, it’s the same feeling,” he says as he searches his mind to find the right words. “It doesn’t matter what you’re making.  If you were to sit down and knit a sweater,  that feeling you get, that you’ve made it yourself.  That’s what I’m talking about.”  He smiles and leans back in his chair, imagining the accomplishments that still lay ahead of him.  “A piece of the Red Antiquities Building will stay with me.  Always” he says.

We hope so.

It’s our pleasure to introduce The Red Antiquities Construction Team in a continuing series called:  Meet The Crew

Meet Barry Primak: Site Manager

Barry has been involved with the Red Antiquities Building since the early fall of 2011.  As site manager, he is responsible for every single detail of the project, managing 12 crew members, sub trades, organizing and scheduling all aspects of the project to fit within tight deadlines and budget constraints.  When asked why he chose this type of work, a broad smile spreads across his face. “It’s what I’m good at,” he says.   Originally from Burlington, a carpenter by trade, he learned early on that working with materials was in his blood.  “It’s my passion,” he says.  “It’s what I love to do.”

This passion for construction has taken him outside of Ontario and across the world.  Six years in South Africa, building high end custom homes not only gave him the experience and training needed to further his career, it also allowed him the chance to pass his knowledge on to others.  ‘In South Africa, after a while, I found that I was training people,” says Barry.  “Even when I was dealing with a definite language barrier, I realized I liked helping others reach their potential.”

The travel bug still in his system, Barry jumped continents again for his next adventure: Afghanistan.   Committed to following his passion for working with materials and construction, he assisted the Canadian troops, as a civilian, in a supportive role.  “Again, I found myself training others, overcoming language barriers,” he says.  He describes the experience as fantastic and life changing.  Now, a family man situated in London with a wife and two growing children, the Red Antiquities Building project seemed the perfect opportunity to further his passion for building while planting roots in a city that has come to mean so much to him.  “I’m fascinated by the structure of this building,” Barry says.  “As a carpenter, I’m especially interested in seeing the work that was done all those years ago.  I’m immersing myself in all the different aspects of the building so we can restore it to its former glory.”

This has not been an easy project and one which has held many challenges and intricacies.   Barry is quick to point out that the dedication of the crew is the force that drives all of them to keep going.  “The best part of this job is the people I’m working with,” he says.  “All these guys, they don’t have to be here but they show up, every single day.”  Due to the nature of the Job Creation Partnership, Barry has had the privilege of working with several young men who come to him with very little experience.  “I see these young guys come in, and I watch them learn and develop new skills,” he explains.  “I find out what they’re good at and then I watch them grow.  They put their heart into it and I can see it becoming a passion in them like it is in me.”

Barry describes his foreman and the crew members with a genuine sense of camaraderie and respect.  “They all realize the historic significance of the building,” he says.  ‘They want to be there to see it through to completion.”  As the sound of hammers, drills and saws continue in the background, Barry straightens his hard hat, stands and looks toward the door as if signalling that he’s got a full day ahead of him and needs to get moving.  “When I think about this job,” he says.  “The Red Antiquities Building is bigger than a job.  This is bigger than all of us.”  Amidst the noise of the restoration and renovation going on around him, he continues. “The RAB was here before us and it’ll be here after us.  How lucky am I to be part of its history,” he says. How lucky indeed.

Stay tuned for more in the Meet The Crew series and be sure to like us on facebook and follow us on twitter for updates.

It takes a door to raise a house. A house is not a home without a door. All good things start with… a door? Maybe in some far off distant country these are actual sayings. Maybe not. Regardless, Wednesday, January 25th at just past 11:00 am, the Red Antiquities Building officially became a building with a door.

In keeping with our commitment to maintaining the heritage of the building, the original double door was recreated from pictures by Al Marlow, of Al’s Custom Millwork.   Soon, the original main door, which was painstakingly restored by Mr. Marlow, will take it’s place back in the building where it belongs.

Driving by the Red Antiquities Building, one feels a sense of completion as the two toned red and cream double door and crisp, newly painted window frames signal the light at the end of a very, very long tunnel.  This window, is a replica of the original store front window, built in 1893.

A photo, from the University of Western Ontario archives shows how little the building, including the window, has been altered since it’s original construction. It’s not difficult to imagine the building, in it’s heyday, greeting customers who stopped in from all directions.  From that expansive window, the Winders must have looked out on a very different skyline and perhaps imagined the changes which were to come.  We owe a great deal of gratitude to the London Endowment for Heritage Fund for contributing to the completion of this window.

While this important stage of construction was underway, the interior of the building was buzzing with activity.   Dedicated crews worked to install plumbing, electrical and fire protection.   

 It won’t be long before sheets of drywall make their way through these newly minted doors.  Work continues at a rapid pace as everyone involved waits for the day when we can call this project: complete.

Take a look at how far we’ve come and the many people involved in bringing us Back From The Brink:

A sincere thank you to everyone who supported our exhibit: From Ruins To Renewal at The Arts Project.  Local photographers Mike Wood and April King captured the history of the building with a unique perspective and a contemporary style. With nothing but a camera, natural light and a keen eye, these photographers portrayed an important part of London’s heritage. These photographs were a welcome addition to the gallery and can still be a welcome addition to your home.

We owe an enormous amount of gratitude to The London Heritage Council, City of London and the Community Heritage Investment Program jury members for funding this important exhibit.

The old roof on the rear addition had deteriorated beyond repair and was structurally unsound. Our crew built a new roof, raising it 8” to accommodate 6’ of headroom, thus increasing the usable space on the third floor.

The red siding and exterior trim is complete. The original wide boards of eastern white pine were in poor repair and required replacement.  The new boards are an exact replica of the original wide boards.  The original window frames, trim and dentils (decorative trim near the roof) were in good shape and able to be restored by the team.

Hydro, gas, water and sanitary services were installed.

The basement is framed to provide more office space. The majority of the framing on the main and upper floor is completed.  Work on the flooring began on the main and second levels.

The elegant front entrance on the residence side of the building was restored by a skilled craftsman and is being installed.  New basement windows and window boxes are installed.

Masons restored the exterior chimneys. The flues of both chimneys were unusable and had to be replaced. The masons did exceptional work rebuilding the chimneys off a platform secured to the roof. The brick work around the foundation is finished and rare bricks with maker’s marks now highlight the corners on the south and west side of the building.

The re-engineering of the roof trusses is complete.  Structural supports were added to meet current codes. The rotted boards of the original roof were replaced and a stone covered steel roof is being installed.  The roofing material has the look of traditional wood shake with the durability of steel.

In November, we were honoured by Architectural Conservatory of Ontario with the AK Sculthorpe Award for Advocacy. This award recognizes an individual, an informal group or an established non-profit organization that, at a critical point, achieved exemplary success in solving a significant heritage crisis.

The next phase will involve the installation of heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems. This will be followed by insulation, drywalling, and interior restorations. In the spring, landscaping will be completed. We hope to have the building ready for occupancy in April 2012 as our fundraising continues in order to raise money to finance the final phases.

To follow our progress more closely, follow us on Facebook at “Back from the Brink.”

We are very thankful for all the support we receive. It is through the generosity of our community that this project continues to be a great success!

When: January 17-21, noon – 5:00 pm

Where: The Arts Project, 203 Dundas Street, London ON

This photo exhibition is a rare opportunity to view this historic structure through an artistic and contemporary medium. Each photographic print represents the 139 year old building with a unique, creative perspective and an artistic edge. Featuring the work of local photographer Mike Wood and others, this is an opportunity to experience London’s past as well as the pathway to its future.

Each print is available for purchase, the proceeds of which will go towards the effort to save, preserve and revitalize this significant heritage property.

DECRA Shake XD, will give the RAB roof the look of hand-split shake, without the worry or maintenance that traditional wood shake requires.  This roofing product will offer protection from freeze/thaw conditions, high winds, and hail damage. DECRA’s products are lightweight and will not cause strain or damage to existing roof beams, retaining the historical components original to the structure when it was first built.  Shake XD^® has a unique hidden fastening system and is installed direct to the deck and requires no special tools. Shake XD^® provides the durability and longevity of stone coated steel and is backed by a 50-year warranty.  The panels will not crack, split, curl or break like traditional wood shakes.

We’re in the process of installing the Shake XD now, and it looks fantastic!

Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (London Region Branch) a

This awards programme seeks to recognize individuals and organizations from either the private or public sector who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the preservation ofLondon’s built heritage. Nominees may be proposed for their long-term dedication to the cause, for a single outstanding effort that made a notable difference, for strong leadership and vision in educating the public, or for actions that have brought about a positive outcome for built heritage in our City. The awards also seek to honour projects that have actually preserved part of our built heritage.  The awards will therefore be given in two broad categories:

1.   To individuals in the fields of education, awareness or advocacy.
2.   Projects that have preserved built heritage.

The number of awards given each year will be at the discretion of the Awards Committee.

Any person may make a nomination. To do so, please submit (via surface mail, fax, or email), the name and address of the individual, project or organization you are nominating, a description of their achievements no more than one page in length, and contact information including phone numbers for the nominator and for two further supporters of the nomination. Nominators and supporters may be contacted by the Awards Committee.

Deadline for nominations is Monday, January 9th 2012

 Send nominations by mail to ACO – HLF Awards Committee

Grosvenor Lodge, 1017,Western Road,London,OntarioN6G 1G5

By Fax to 519-645-0981 or by email to info@grosvenorlodge.com

In order that members of the public may get an idea of what sort of person or project to nominate, it is possible to view the evaluation criteria that the Committee will be using by going to the ACO or HLF websites.

www.acolondon.ca    or     www.heritagelondonfoundation.org

The awards will be presented at a Gala reception to be held at the Elsie Perrin Williams Estate during Heritage Week on Tuesday, February 21st 2012 at 7.30p.m.

from left to right: Paul Hubert, Executive Director, Pathways Skill Development; Susan Ratcliffe, President of the ACO; Frank Pal, Vice President of Woodcliffe Landmark Properties, the Host Sponsor.

The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) awarded Paul Hubertand the Board of Directors of Pathways Skill Development & Placement Centre with the 2011 A.K. Sculthorpe Award for Advocacy for their role in the restoration of the Red Antiquities Building.

“Pathways is deserving of this award because they, for the very first time, embraced a built heritage project and in so doing helped create a template for possible future projects both in London and elsewhere,” says Genet Hodder, President of the ACO London Chapter. “Paul Hubert and his organization should be commended for promoting heritage restoration in the community and for providing a point of pride for the approximately 60 workers engaged in the project.”   

 Paul Hubert received the award at the ACO Annual Awards Dinner held Friday, November 11^th at the Arts and Letters Club inToronto.

 The A.K. Sculthorpe Award for Advocacy recognizes an individual, an informal group or an established non-profit organization that, at a critical point, achieved exemplary success in solving a significant heritage crisis. The people involved have demonstrated leadership in the field, integrity and the ability to be inclusive and communicate the value of heritage conservation to others.

For more information on the 2011 ACO award winners, click here