The massive task of turning a former synagogue that is over 100-years-old into high-end offices is nearly complete.
Renovations on the former synagogue on Carleton Street by its current owner Cooke Aquaculture are in the home stretch with employees moving in over the next two weeks.
The company purchased the building in 2017 and began renovations last February.
Work is nearly complete on the major renovations at the former synagogue on Carleton Street in Saint John, NB.
It will be home to Cooke Aquaculture employees. pic.twitter.com/lHiNzBfsn4— Tamara Steele (she/her) 🇨🇦 (@tamarasteele1) June 11, 2019
Joel Richardson is vice president of public relations for Cooke Aquaculture.
He says the building is a provincially designated historic site meaning every effort was made to ensure the architectural elements were kept intact.
“That includes the original front staircase and all of the original wooden trusses which are incredibly ornate. A significant amount of work had to go into that as well.” Richardson said.
Two views of the stairs. pic.twitter.com/XEMo1qHxAL
— Tamara Steele (she/her) 🇨🇦 (@tamarasteele1) June 11, 2019
Richardson says it was a priority of the Cooke family to make sure that as many of the original architectural structures were kept intact and repurposed.
“The windows on the exterior of the building are being used inside. They were replaced with more energy efficient windows in the same architectural designs.”.
This glass is one of many features from the old structure finding new life here. It came from the exterior windows which were replaced. pic.twitter.com/j3LRj493Kp
— Tamara Steele (she/her) 🇨🇦 (@tamarasteele1) June 11, 2019
The original pews are included in the workspaces upstairs where the original windows are used as dividers.
The City of Saint John contributed $50,000 towards the removal of the hazardous building materials like asbestos to facilitate the start of renovations.
Cooke Aquaculture has more than 1400 employees in New Brunswick with most in the Charlotte County area.
Richardson says uptown Saint John is equally as important in terms of providing a head office for our Cooke Inc. global headquarters.
About 90 employees work in the Cooke Inc. building on Wellington Row across the road from newly renovated space on Carleton Street.
Top floor view. Joel Richardson expects Cooke employees will be calling this office home within the next two weeks. pic.twitter.com/Ghgaz8ord4
— Tamara Steele (she/her) 🇨🇦 (@tamarasteele1) June 11, 2019
