The historic Petrie Building renovations are well underway and now people will have chance to help restore the exterior.
Susan Ratcliffe, of the Guelph-Wellington branch of Architectural Conservancy of Ontario said that they are hoping to recreate the build façade to its original 1800’s design.
"We are hoping it will look the way it was in 1882 when it was built," says Ratcliffe.
"It was an element of pride in the streetscape (at that time) because Mr. Petrie wanted it to stand out, so he chose a unique facade for it."
Ratcliffe says that the design of the building front is distinct and one of only three across Canada that has a metal stamped façade.
She says that people will soon have a chance to figuratively purchase a piece of the Petrie Building by means of a crowdfunding campaign, sponsoring a specific part of the metal facade .
The campaign is going to run through the National Trust for Canada on a platform called This Place Matters.
"The campaign will start in a couple of weeks," say Ratcliffe.
She says that the timeline for the restoration is not certain at this moment.
"As with most heritage buildings, you're never quite sure what you will find. You have to stabilze the front behind it first so the water doesn't keep coming down inside," she says.
"Also because this is unique it will be a unique process to make the pieces that are missing."
On Monday Guelph City Council unanimously voted to support a tax relief grant for the building while the restoration of the façade takes place that will be spread out over a number of years.
