Pavilion 1 at Sherbrooke’s Domaine-Howard, photographed in 2017. The city says its heritage porch will be carefully dismantled and preserved ahead of restoration work planned for 2028. Photo: Cantons-de-l’Est/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Preparatory work on a $17.6-million heritage project at Sherbrooke’s Domaine-Howard is expected to begin this fall after the city said the required regulatory and approval steps had been completed.
The City of Sherbrooke announced Aug. 18 that the work will form part of a broader project to protect, restore and showcase the heritage of Domaine-Howard.
The first phase, planned for fall 2026, includes the demolition of a greenhouse built in 1947 and a second gardener’s house built in 1968.
The heritage porch of the Alberta-May-Campbell house, known as Pavilion 1, will also be carefully dismantled.
According to the city, the porch stones will be cleaned, numbered and stored so the structure can be reconstructed identically as part of restoration work planned for 2028.
The city says the three heritage pavilions and the 1914 greenhouse will all be preserved and undergo major restoration work over the coming years.
The work represents an investment of approximately $17.6 million.
The areas opened up by the two demolitions are expected to be redeveloped as English-style gardens. Sherbrooke says the changes will improve views toward the 1914 heritage greenhouse and enhance the experience for park visitors.
Development of the new gardens is scheduled for 2027, along with preparation of plans and specifications for the restoration work.
The larger restoration program is expected to take place progressively between 2028 and 2031 and will cover Pavilions 1, 2 and 3 as well as the 1914 greenhouse.
The city said technical assessments identified significant deterioration and safety problems in the two buildings slated for demolition.
The 1947 greenhouse has been closed since 2023 because of major structural problems. The city described it as having low heritage value and very little architectural interest.
The second gardener’s house has also been closed since 2023. According to the city, the building has several significant deficiencies and no longer meets municipal needs.
Sherbrooke said the decisions were based on technical audits as well as the orientations contained in the Domaine-Howard park development master plan.
The city said the approach will allow municipal resources to be concentrated on buildings considered to have the greatest historical, architectural and cultural value.
Paul Gingues, the municipal councillor responsible for asset management, said in the city’s announcement that the municipality intends to protect Domaine-Howard’s built heritage.
He said the work beginning this fall will include the careful dismantling of the Pavilion 1 porch, while demolition of the 1947 greenhouse and gardener’s house will create additional space for the planned English gardens.
Under the city’s preliminary schedule, demolition and porch dismantling are planned for fall 2026, followed by garden work and restoration planning in 2027.
Restoration of the three pavilions and the 1914 greenhouse is then expected to proceed from 2028 through 2031.
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