The Seagram Lofts, Waterloo

Owner / Developer:  The Barrelworks Group
Architect:  L. Alan Grinham Architect Inc.
Engineer:  Sze-Straka Engineers Limited

This was a unique project involving the conversion of two of the Seagrams bonding warehouses into residential condominiums in Waterloo, Ontario.  The structure, originally built as a warehouse for aging whiskey in wooden barrels, was renovated into upscale loft apartments.  The brick shell was originally braced by the wooden racking, which had to be entirely gutted to make way for new construction.  This required that the erection of the new structural steel framework be co-ordinated around selective demolition of the original structure.  In addition, some of the steel bears on new concrete block walls in the core area.

In addition to the new structural steel framework, we provided steel stairs and railings for the Phase One building's two stairwells.  The stairs and landings were supplied as shop fabricated pre-assembled units which were set in place with the tower crane as construction of the masonry core progresses.  Once the units were placed, they received final adjustment to compensate for variations in the surrounding construction.  Then they were welded together and ready for concrete fill.  This allowed for fixed permanent stairs to be in place and ready for use as the floor levels were attained.