LOOM 14: A Creative Hub for Permanent Placement Architecture for an Economic Engine in Crisis: Reclaiming Toronto’s Industrial Heritage from Gentrification and Receivership

This thesis explores heritage preservation and urban economic resilience at 14 McCaul Street. By reimagining this historic structure as permanent "creative hardware," the project provides a strategic alternative to displacing designers. Using adaptive reuse, it establishes a stable sanctuary for innovation and a dedicated hub for OCAD U alumni to collaborate and scale. The work demonstrates how interior architecture can keep economic value within Toronto’s design community.