The former synagogue on the corner of Carleton Street and Wellington Row in Saint John is getting a new lease on life with renovation work well underway on the building after being purchased by Cooke Aquaculture.
The renos include replacing all of the windows except for the 35-foot window at the main entrance and adding offices to the first floor, a boardroom and elevator.
Work continues on the renovation of the old #SaintJohn synagogue, the future home of about 50 Cooke Aquaculture employees. The work began in February and it should be completed late this year. pic.twitter.com/BRAzxEQRmS
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) May 23, 2018
The contractor, Glen Thompson of GlenHar builders, says the building has post and beam construction with a mixture of brick and wood put together.
“A lot of the woodwork is mortise and tenon so some of the beams are showing their age,” Thompson said. “There are shrinkage cracks in them from drying out. We had to put some extra beams in to compensate for the new loads on them”.
This room will feature a boardroom where the top will be used as workspace as well. pic.twitter.com/gluOWCSdM5
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) May 23, 2018
Mayor Don Darling calls the building ‘amazing’ and a multi-million dollar investment to restore a building that likely would have been demolished so Darling is thankful for the commitment from Cooke Aquaculture.
“Hiring more people and investing in our community and I think this former synagogue building is gonna be spectacular when it’s done,” Darling says.
The former synagogue was built in 1872, renovations began in February and should be completed late this year.
The second floor boardroom and a look of the former synagogue’s balcony. It used to seat 200 people. pic.twitter.com/GNukw3ikf9
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) May 23, 2018
