Lister restoration revealed

Concealed by scaffolding and plywood for more than a year, the Lister Block has finally begun to shed its shroud.

The historic building, seen by many as a key to the rejuvenation of downtown Hamilton and one of its worst examples of urban decay, has undergone a tremendous transformation since crews began restoring the structure last September.

And while there's still a substantial amount of work to be done, the Lister's former beauty is already starting to show.

After stripping the building's interior back to its concrete skeleton, workers have now painstakingly restored or replaced much of the terracotta facade, oak storefronts, terrazzo floor tiles and skylights that characterize the King William Street landmark.

The project has been trying at times, said Shawn Marr, vice-president of developer Hi-Rise, but the results show the intricate restoration is well worth the trouble.

“Unlike new construction, which is very straightforward and relatively simple, when you have to integrate the heritage components of a building with the expectations of a modern structure, it's a heck of a challenge,” he said.

“But the work has exceeded my expectations ... People who remember the Lister Block from three years ago as a derelict building are going to be completely overwhelmed.”