Reformulating underused facilities through adaptive reuse: making and remaking the architecture of Copper Cliff, Ontario

Abstract

Industries have a history of shaping the development and heritage of communities. In the case of Copper Cliff, the mining industry has influenced the architecture and culture of the community. However, these mining operations no longer operate how they were created. The community of Copper Cliff has transitioned from a miners’ town into an extension of Greater Sudbury. This area encompasses a wide range of professionals that live and work across the city. The constant pursuit of a sustainable future has informed this evolution. Technology has permitted people to work from a distance, which has become a reality for many industries more recently with the pandemic. The industrial vision within Copper Cliff is to reduce the environmental impact, and to become world leaders in this sector. There are areas within this industry that have negatively impacted the land. Key issues that are relevant today are the waste management and water reclamation processes. A place for further research and development would benefit both the industry and this community. The philosophy of tearing down underused facilities within industrial areas is still a major problem. To sustain a viable plan for growth and to maintain the existing community and surrounding areas it is essential to consider adaptive reuse. By analyzing the culture, mining industry and the architecture within Copper Cliff, the design proposal will provide a balance of these components. This community’s unique making and remaking principles are represented within the following three elements. The architecture undergoes a new life through adaptive reuse principles. The culture emphasizes the arts and crafts of this built community and the reuse of materials and waste for a new purpose. The industry is represented by their long history of mining in this area, and their constant need to improve and remake these mining processes to increase sustainability. The purpose for this thesis document is to explore the methods and strategies of reusing facilities that are underused and proposing a new function for them before they become obsolete. This will provide the community with more options for the future and prevent the industry from demolishing and removing all community input. This project will consider the rich history of the community, and how this heritage can be represented through adaptive reuse. This will bring the architecture, mining, and culture together at the center of this design proposal.