The St Andrew’s-Wesley United Church is a Vancouver landmark that opened its doors in 1933. As one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in western Canada, it boasts locally sourced materials such as Nelson Island granite and Haddington Island stone, a soaring vaulted interior timber roof, and distinguished French and Italian stained windows.
The historic concrete structure and interior plaster elements had deteriorated, and the linoleum tile floor needed replacement. Its roof required extensive repairs, and steel reinforcing was added to seismically upgrade the building.
The renewal of this landmark, by Ryder Architecture in collaboration with RJC Engineers, incorporated a complex process of improving the building’s envelope performance, seismic resiliency, and accessibility.
The church’s distinctive architectural elements define its legacy and meaning for its community and overall appreciation amongst Vancouverites. Repairs to terracotta elements, locally quarried granite and stone façades, and a new copper roof preserved the building’s durability, visual appeal, and historical compatibility. New copper gutters and downpipes gracefully match the original elements.
Structural work on the interior involved removing plaster from the walls and vaults. Fibreglass moulds were made of the existing plaster elements so they could be re-cast and installed to replicate the original form and joint lines. The plaster was then meticulously painted to match the original finishes and texture, replicating the interior’s original aesthetic and historical character.
The existing stained-glass windows required only minor repairs to the lead cames. The interior woodwork was retained and rejuvenated with multiple coats of oil to refresh and restore the original finish. At the same time, plaster coffers in the sanctuary were cleaned to reveal their original colour, and the chapel’s painted wood ceiling was rehydrated to restore its stencilled colours. Other new interventions included upgraded accessibility and mobility aids such as ramps and new audio-visual systems.
Historic conservation involves collaborative and highly detailed strategies from an architectural and engineering perspective. Making informed technical decisions requires sophisticated computer modelling and analysis to understand site conditions.
Meanwhile, conserving the many layers of irreplaceable architectural detailing was an essential priority. Adam James, principal at Ryder Architecture, describes the process as “using a 21st-century skill set to analyze and facilitate remediation and upgrades that retain the building’s heritage value for the next hundred years.”
Michael MacLean, project Lead and Associate at RJC, explains, “The entire team understood the importance of maintaining the building’s historic character while providing a revitalized structure that meets the church’s vision for a modern-day gathering place.”
The church’s conservation took two years to complete and was the first significant upgrade to the building in its nearly 100-year-long history. The results are appreciated: a seamless integration of old and new architectural elements that will continue to serve its congregation and community while proudly asserting Vancouver’s architectural and civic history.
The project and others were recently honoured by the City of Vancouver for its annual Heritage Awards. It also received a 2021 North American Copper in Architecture Award and 2021 BC Heritage Award in Conservation.
