The Old Post Office is an iconic building constructed in 1885 overlooking the Grand River. In 1982 this building was designated by the Ontario Heritage Act and is on the National Historic Sites and Monuments directory through Parks Canada. In 2018, the building re-opened as the newest Idea Exchange location with a restored building that blends the old and the new. 

 Restoration project details

View the design approved by City Council on July 14, 2014.

Features of the new design includes:

Timeline

Construction of the Old Post Office project started in November 2015. The facility opened to the public Saturday, July 7.

Learn more about the restoration project below.

Heritage Consideration
News Releases
Heritage Planning
Steering Committee
Committee Members

Heritage Consideration

Using the following standards and guidelines, ERA Architects created a Heritage Conservation Master Plan for the project

  • Parks Canada - Standards and guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places
  • Ontario Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport's - Eight guiding principles for the Conservation of Historic Properties
  • City of Cambridge - Heritage Master Plan
  • City of Cambridge - Official Plan

The project design includes conservation, restoration and preservation of the building's heritage features. SBA prepared a Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment, peer reviewed by ERA Architects Inc. The Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee (MHAC) approved the Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment and Conversation Master Plan.

News Releases

Heritage Planning

Steering Committee

Steering Committee Members

The Restoration of the Post Office Committee includes the following members:

  • Hardy Bromberg, Deputy City Manager, Community Development, Chair
  • Mayor Doug Craig, City of Cambridge
  • Nicholas Ermeta, Councillor, City of Cambridge
  • Jan Liggett, Councillor, City of Cambridge
  • Pam Wolf, Councillor, City of Cambridge
  • Helen Kelly, CEO, Idea Exchange
  • Gary Price, Chair, Cambridge Public Library Board
  • David Pinnington, Board Member, Cambridge Public Library Board
  • John Oldfield, Chair, MHAC
  • Steven Fairweather, Deputy City Manager/Chief Financial Officer, City of Cambridge
  • Brad Paddock, Community at Large

The City of Cambridge's Old Post Office project received international recognition in the "Old and New" category of the 2016 Architectural Review MIPIM Future Projects Awards in Cannes, France. View our news release to learn more.