Aurora Armoury Canadian Food & Wine Institute

Built in 1874 for the Department of National Defence, the Armoury is a federal heritage building located in the heart of Aurora, Canada. In 2014, the Town of Aurora purchased the Armoury to establish vibrant community gathering place in partnership with Niagara College’s Canadian Food & Wine Institute. The challenge of the renovation and expansion was to update and preserve this important community landmark, while blending it with the surrounding Town Park. The public is invited inside through 48-foot wide, full height automatic bifold doors that maximize natural light and create a connection to the park. To celebrate the original agrarian-style building, the original post and beam structure was exposed and the original terrazzo floor was refurbished. The end result is a timeless and contemporary solution that allows the community to celebrate the Armoury for years to come.