St. James-the-less
Canadian historical site
St James’ Cemetery and Crematorium is the oldest operating cemetery in Toronto. Opened in 1844, the beautiful chapel of St. James-the-Less is a national historic site. MEP was honored to collaborate with St. James' general contractor, Trinity Construction Management Limited, in the preservation of this significant piece of Canadian history.
Working on a Canadian historical site demands thorough considerations for preserving the mechanical elements integral to the history of the building. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units, having passed their usable lifespan, were documented before replacement. This documentation serves to capture the history of the mechanical systems for future repairs and maintenance. Following the assessment, our team went to work installing a new HVAC system and ductwork.
Our involvement began in the crematorium, where we removed an outdated cremation chamber. Subsequently, we installed two new cremation incinerators, ensuring the site’s continued functionality
The intricacies of the installation required careful planning from our project management team and skilled technicians to minimize the alterations to the building’s character. With ductwork spanning throughout the entire church, this was no small feat. Reusable elements were retained to honor the church’s heritage.
After a close evaluation of the drainage system, it was revealed that it did not require replacement. Our scope encompassed upgrading the waterproofing and drainage systems as they go hand in hand in preventing premature deterioration. These upgrades, spanning the entire building, ensure the church’s historical integrity endures.
MEP is proud to have played a part in the rehabilitation of the St. James Cemetery and Crematorium. Despite the challenges of making essential repairs without compromising the building’s character, our careful inspection and planning allowed us to deliver the results that the church was looking for.
