The Press Block

Architecture, Heritage Conservation, Interpretive Design, Completed by Matt C Reynolds during employment with Fathom Studio

The Press Block is a mixed-use development at the corner of Barrington, George, and Granville Streets in Downtown Halifax, integrating residential units and commercial space with two prominent heritage buildings, the Kenny-Dennis building (1863) and the Acadian Recorder building (1900). The vacant lot offered a new infill opportunity along the Barrington Conservation District, but the site carried a dynamic, layered history that needed to be understood before any new construction could move forward.

We compiled a Heritage Impact Assessment Report to evaluate that history, uncovering a rich lineage of journalism and press that became the foundation of our approach. The proposed development takes cues from that history, reinstating the corner of Barrington and George as a significant commercial landmark in reference to the former Cragg Building, demolished in 1989. To prevent the new construction from overwhelming the heritage buildings, it is divided into visually discrete elements that respond to their scale, rhythm, and fenestration, with streetwall breaks and setbacks that preserve the cornice lines and historic details of the Kenny-Dennis and Acadian Recorder buildings.

As part of a holistic approach, we developed a comprehensive design package that carries the site's cultural history into its branding, interior, and interpretive design, referencing the many newspapers once produced in the area: the Acadian Recorder, Chronicle-Herald, Mail-Star, Morning Herald, and Evening Mail. As a combination of old and new, The Press Block continues that narrative, paying tribute to journalism, typography, and the printing press.