The Toronto Preservation Board met on April 24th, 2023 to discuss the inclusion of several properties in the city's Heritage Register. St. Peter's Estonian Lutheran Church, designed by renowned Estonian architect Michael Bach in 1955, was one of the buildings discussed.

The staff report found the property to have design value as a representative example of a mid-century modernist church. St. Peter's Estonian Lutheran Church was designed by Estonian Canadian architect Michael Bach in 1955. The technical achievement of Bach's design includes the use of structural laminated wood beams arranged in a crossing pattern and terminating as pillars at grade. The glulam arched beams and the wood roof decking are exposed within the interior, and the beams are visually represented in the copper-sheated roof on the exterior.

St. Peter's also holds historical value for its association with the Canadian-Estonian community. The building reflects the work or ideas of architect Michael Bach, who was also a well-known innovator and educator as a member of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto.

Several members of the congregation and members of the Estonian community in Toronto spoke in support of the building's inclusion in the Register, hoping to save it from the wrecking ball. Reet Marten Sehr represented the dissenting view, saying that she speaks for the large majority of congregation members who are concerned about the survival of the congregation, arguing that the building's inclusion in the Register would make it more difficult to sell and thus deny the source of funds for the congregation to operate.

The Board voted to accept staff recommendation to include St. Peter's in the list of heritage buildings in Toronto. City Council will still have to hold a formal vote to act on the Board's decision, but this is usually a formality.

The Preservation Board's discussions pertaining to the St. Peter's Church can be viewed below.



Board minutes.

Märkmed: