Inzola Group Brings Life Back into Historic Dominion Building

Thursday, Jan 31 2008, 02:00

The Dominion Building, formerly known as O’Malley’s restaurant is in the process of being transformed into a 5,000 square foot restaurant plus two 3,000 square foot floors of office space which have already been leased.

With the office portion of the building scheduled to open in March of 2008, a tenant for the restaurant has yet to be found. The Inzola Group, a family owned and operated business is also the owner of the building.

The historic building is located in the heart of downtown Brampton and is a very prominent structure in the city. Black & Moffat are the architects of the new design and the structural engineer is Ireland Engineering Associates Ltd.

Originally built in 1889 under the design of Thomas Fuller, the architect of Canada’s first parliament buildings. The building took on some additions over the years of a cupola in 1906 and a clock tower in 1914. Businesses such as the Post Office, Brampton Police headquarters and the city’s Planning Department have all taken residence in the building over the years. The building was sold in the 1970’s and converted into pub.

When the Inzola Group bought the it was a labour of love to restore the building and bring it back to a safe and functional condition. Structurally the building was in bad shape.

The restoration has been a huge undertaking of gutting the whole building, reinforcing the floors, installation of new period windows. A new roof and construction of a new 400 square foot addition that can house an elevator, new sprinklers, fire escapes and other emergency life services that are required.

Repairs and replacement of exterior brick walls and restoration of the cupola and clock tower have been the most visible changes over the past months.

Even though his investment will probably never be recouped in his lifetime considering the cost of buying the building and the estimated $2 million in restoration, Cutruzzola says his payback will be the preservation of a piece of history in this city knowing that the building will last another 100 years now.