Alderlea Mansion

Location: Brampton, ON

Type: Due Diligence Report; Feasibility, Adaptive Reuse & Business Case Study

Area: 7,007 sq. ft. Heritage building with proposed 8,414.8 sq. ft. multipurpose addition

The City of Brampton retained ATA for the Alderlea Due Diligence study and an Adaptive Reuse and Business Case Study. The Alderlea estate built circa 1865 is a heritage property located in the Historic Four Corners of Brampton. The City wished to restore the building and its grounds to its former grandeur while making it a viable self-sustaining facility.

The first phase of the study consisted of a detailed analysis of the existing structures and recommendations regarding short-term remedial action and a quote for the full restoration of the site.

The second phase established the best use of the building in consultation with the City of Brampton stakeholders and the public.

A study was done with Urban Metrics looking at a variety of possible future uses including a restaurant, museum, banquet centre, conference centre for corporate meetings and other events, commercial offices or home to City departments, greenhouse and gardens, etc.

Through research of case studies it was possible to grade these uses against a number of criteria including capital cost, neighbourhood compatibility, impacts on heritage, economic impact on the downtown, revenue generation potential, multi-use potential, access to the community, synergies with other downtown attractions, sponsorship potential, financial risk, market potential, etc.  A business plan involving capital and operating costs was prepared for the development of the estate as a corporate conference facility for the city considering the restoration of the building, its original greenhouse, the gardens and the construction of a new rental hall.  ATA was able to find photographs of the original building, which set the quality and helped guide the design of the restoration process.  Through review of this analysis in committee meetings the consultant team was able to put forward two design concepts.

The first of which proposed extensive restoration and interior renovation to the existing building, and reconstruction of the greenhouse with a new addition. The second concept proposed the same renovations to the existing mansion but replaced the greenhouse with a contemporary glazed link that both connects and separates the heritage structure from the new addition.