The Churchill

Victoria, BC
Heritage, Mixed-Use, Residential

This project restores and revitalizes the 1897 Hall Block in downtown Victoria, transforming a significant heritage structure into a mixed-use development with retail at street level and rental residential units above. The design carefully balances preservation and renewal—honouring the building’s historic character while adapting it for contemporary urban living.

To support seismic upgrades and heritage restoration, two and a half additional residential storeys were introduced above the original structure, bringing the total to 40 residential units. These new levels are strategically set back, allowing the historic façade to retain its visual prominence along the streetscape while establishing a clear dialogue between old and new architectural expressions.

Project feasibility was achieved through an innovative strategy that connects the new addition to the vertical circulation of the adjacent building, utilizing the existing party wall to provide shared access and optimize the building’s internal layout.

At street level, the restored storefront reinterprets the building’s original design with attention to detail and proportion, enhancing its heritage presence and contributing to the vibrancy and renewal of downtown Victoria’s urban fabric.