Evergreen Brickworks { 10 images } Created 25 Jun 2013
Canada's first large-scale community environmental centre, The Toronto Evergreen Brick Works opened its doors to the public September 2010.
The Evergreen Brick Works project transformed an underused, deteriorating industrial site in the city's Don Valley into a regionally important, environmentally based community landmark to engage visitors in diverse experiences connected to nature and the city.
This gallery features Building 16, which housed several massive kilns built in the 1960s for firing and drying bricks. The kilns were fascinating artifacts: their sheer size – 600 linear metres, occupied three-quarters of the building.
Visitors can now access and explore the various interior spaces of the kilns, and learn about the different stages of firing brick (preheating, firing, and cooling).
Originally named Don Valley Brick Works, the site is significant for its important collection of 16 industrial structures. The associated brick-making machinery represents a century-long operation and the additions and modifications to the building stock reflect the capabilities and needs of the site over time. Constructed of various materials including brick, corrugated metal, steel, terra cotta, cast iron, rubble stone and wood, the structures are related to the continually evolving needs of the brick making process. The clay grinding building is the oldest structure on the site and was built in 1891. In 1906 the “valley” chimney was constructed (the only chimney left on the site) and remained in use until the 1960s. In 1910 the office, lunchroom, screening and dust collection building and stock brick dryer building were built. In 1912-13 the sand-lime storage building was constructed, followed by the clay-shale storage building and the welding shop building, in 1925 and 1926 respectively. In 1956-57 the dry-press brick production plant and tunnel kiln and dryer building were constructed. In 1960-62 the sand-lime brick production plant, sand-lime brick storage building, holding room and the wire-cut brick production plant were constructed coinciding with expanding production capabilities. The final building constructed was the brick storage shed in 1972.
The Evergreen Brick Works project transformed an underused, deteriorating industrial site in the city's Don Valley into a regionally important, environmentally based community landmark to engage visitors in diverse experiences connected to nature and the city.
This gallery features Building 16, which housed several massive kilns built in the 1960s for firing and drying bricks. The kilns were fascinating artifacts: their sheer size – 600 linear metres, occupied three-quarters of the building.
Visitors can now access and explore the various interior spaces of the kilns, and learn about the different stages of firing brick (preheating, firing, and cooling).
Originally named Don Valley Brick Works, the site is significant for its important collection of 16 industrial structures. The associated brick-making machinery represents a century-long operation and the additions and modifications to the building stock reflect the capabilities and needs of the site over time. Constructed of various materials including brick, corrugated metal, steel, terra cotta, cast iron, rubble stone and wood, the structures are related to the continually evolving needs of the brick making process. The clay grinding building is the oldest structure on the site and was built in 1891. In 1906 the “valley” chimney was constructed (the only chimney left on the site) and remained in use until the 1960s. In 1910 the office, lunchroom, screening and dust collection building and stock brick dryer building were built. In 1912-13 the sand-lime storage building was constructed, followed by the clay-shale storage building and the welding shop building, in 1925 and 1926 respectively. In 1956-57 the dry-press brick production plant and tunnel kiln and dryer building were constructed. In 1960-62 the sand-lime brick production plant, sand-lime brick storage building, holding room and the wire-cut brick production plant were constructed coinciding with expanding production capabilities. The final building constructed was the brick storage shed in 1972.
